Phase I Cultural Resource Survey of 7,245 Acres, Thurmond Lake, Columbia and McDuffie Counties, Georgia

Panamerican Consultants, Inc. performed a Phase I cultural resources survey of approximately 2,932.1 ha (7,245 ac.) contained within selected areas of Columbia and McDuffie counties, Thurmond Lake, Georgia (Contract No. DACW21-95-D-0007, Delivery Order 42). The Operations Project Manager for Thurmond Lake, Georgia and South Carolina, requested that this survey of selected areas in Columbia and McDuffie counties, Georgia be performed. This contract effort was designed to locate and assess the significance of cultural resources within the project area to aid in decision making concerning timber management and lake level issues. The requested survey was intended to comply with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, Executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment), and the Archaeological and Historical Preservation Act of 1974, as described in the project Scope of Work and ER 1130-2-438. Fieldwork for the project was conducted between March and July, 1997. The boundaries of the sites determined to be potentially eligible for inclusion in the NRHP were painted in October. At the same time, the boundaries and the center point of these sites were recorded using DGPS technology for land management purposes. The current study area covers 2,932.1 ha (7,245 ac.) within McDuffie and Columbia counties, Georgia (Figure 1.1). The survey area is located south of the Little River. The area is bounded on the west by Germany Creek and extends east to the Clarks Hill Dam. The area is depicted on the Clarks Hill, Leah, Winfield, and Woodlawn 7.5 minute series USGS topographic quadrangles. There are numerous parks and recreation areas within the survey area, such as Mistletoe State Park, Wildwood Park, Fort Gordon Recreation Area, and Lake Springs Park. In addition, the Keg Creek, Wmfield Hills, and Rousseau Creek subdivisions were within the current study area. The Scope of Work called for an intensive (i.e., 100 percent) survey augmented by the excavation of shovel tests to locate all cultural resources and determine their horizontal and vertical distributions, stratigraphy, integrity of deposits, and cultural association in order to evaluate their NRHP status. This resulted in 24,324 shovel tests recorded (Table 8.1). A total of 983 of the shovel tests yielded positive results, 19,403 contained no cultural materials, and 3,938 were not excavated due to slope, erosion, exposed bedrock, or standing water. For consistency within this report, we refer to shovel tests attempted within a site area. This refers to shovel test locations, regardless of whether or not a shovel test was excavated or whether or not it contained cultural materials. An average of approximately four shovel tests were attempted every acre including tests excavated during site delineation. This survey resulted in the recordation of 364 sites. Of these, 173 were aboriginal, 119 were historic, and 71 had both historic and aboriginal components. Twenty-four sites were recommended as potentially eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. Additionally, 24 historic cemeteries were recorded in the study area. None of the cemeteries were recommended as potentially eligible for NRHP inclusion, but they are protected by state laws. The remaining sites are considered not eligible for NRHP inclusion. No further work on any ineligible sites or isolated finds is recommended. The sites recommended as potentially eligible for NRHP inclusion should be protected or otherwise treated in accordance with applicable preservation laws and regulations. Until the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers further evaluates these potentially eligible sites, the site status is equivalent to being clearly eligible for, or listed in, the NRHP. The sites recommended not eligible and all of the isolated finds warrant no further consideration regarding the presence of cultural resources at their respective locations.