Results of an Archaeological Survey of Pistol range Hollow, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, Walker County

This report documents the results of an archaeological survey of the Pistol Range Hollow area, Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, performed by the Jeffrey L. Brown Institute of Archaeology for the Southeast Archeological Center, National Park Service. The study area is located in the extreme northwest corner of the Park (Figure 1), and comprises an alternative for the proposed relocation of Highway 27. The contracting agency solicited the services of the Institute in March, 1982, for an archaeological investigation to "identify and evaluate any archaeological and scientific data which might otherwise be lost by the construction of the proposed Highway 27 relocation alternative which passes through Pistol Range Hollow" (National Park Service 1982:1, hereafter referred to as "NPS 1982'). The Scope of Work specified intensive investigation of the proposed roadway corridor, within 150 feet of the roadway centerline. Less intensive investigation of areas adjacent to the corridor was also called for. A map accompanying the Scope of Work indicated the approximate area to be investigated; the shaded area shown in Figure 2 corresponds to the right-of-way section. As no engineering survey of the study area had been performed previous to the Institute's survey, the proposed right-of-way for the Highway 27 relocation existed only as a line drawn on the Scope of Work map. The section under consideration was estimated to contain 2000 linear feet, or 13 acres (NPS 1982:3). Unfortunately, there was only minimal correspondence between cartographic representations of the study area (including the one provided by the contracting agency) and the actual field conditions encountered. The differences noted are believed to be the result of changes that have occurred over the last 50 years in the directions and courses of the numerous paths, trails, and stream beds in the Pistol Range Hollow area. Fieldwork began on May 12 and continued through May 17, 1982; one additional day of survey and testing activities occurred on May 21. Project personnel for the fieldwork consisted of two Institute archaeologists, consulting archaeologist E. Raymond Evans, and a metal detector operator (also a consultant), all under the supervision of PI Dr. Nicholas Honerkamp, Director of the Institute. Person-hours devoted to fieldwork totalled 208. Analysis covered a one-week period beginning on May 18. Excluding secretarial work, 72 person-hours were devoted to analysis and report writing by the archaeologists and PI. All analysis and artifact conservation activities were performed at the Archaeological Laboratory of the Jeffrey L. Brown Institute of Archaeology on the UTC campus. All artifacts and records (notes, drawings, photographs) generated during the survey and analysis are temporarily being stored at the Institute.