An Intensive Culutral Resource Assessment Survey of the Marsh Landing Property Camden County, Georgia

During August and September of Bland & Associates Inc. (BAI) conducted an intensive cultural resource assessment survey of the 150-acre Marsh Landing parcel, in Camden County, Georgia. The investigation was performed on behalf of Cape Road, LLC to comply with federal and state regulations regarding the identification and management of historic properties that might occur within the project tract. Specifically, this archaeological project was mandated by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACOE) regulations entitled "Processing of Department of the Army Permits: Procedures for the Protection of Cultural Resources" (33 CFR 325.4; Appendix C), "Nationwide General Permit Condition No. 12" (33 CFR 330.4 [g]), and 33 CFR 320.4 [a] 92) (e). This project has been previously assigned the tracking number HP 060801-001 by HPD-GADNR. The goals of this project were to locate, identify, delineate, and evaluate cultural resources within the tract. All cultural resources within the project tract were evaluated for significance and to determine their eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). As a result of fieldwork, 374 forty-centimeter square shovel tests were excavated and one, previously recorded, archaeological site (9CM204) was further defined. The portions of site 9CM204 which lie within the current project tract consist of a variable density, multi-component site containing Woodland and Mississippian period prehistoric components, and historic materials dating to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. Historic materials were recovered from the plowzone, whereas prehistoric pottery was recovered from somewhat deeper subsurface contexts. The prehistoric component at 9CM204 appears to represents a short-term camp site utilized during several phases of prehistory. During its use, it was possibly tied to a residential base or village located elsewhere. The historic component of the site appears related to the use of the project tract during the nineteenth century as the outlying area of a plantation, and in the early twentieth century as a homestead. Based upon the absence of intact occupational strata, the lack of artifact concentrations as demonstrated through extensive delineation testing, the sparse nature of the artifact assemblage recovered thus far, the extensive disturbances this site has sustained, and the work already conducted, there does not appear to be a potential for future research at the investigated portions of site 9CM204 to generate significant data. This site failed to demonstrate the integrity, distinction, or research potential meeting the criteria listed in Title 36, Part 60 of the Code of Federal Regulations for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The investigated area of site 9MC204 are recommended ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP, and no further archaeological investigation or preservation is recommended. Although the recorded location and boundaries of the site have provided useful data for the development of regional settlement studies, it is recommended that this project be allowed to proceed as planned without further concern for impacts to significant cultural resources.