An Archeological Survey of the Windsor Spring Road Tract, Richmond County, Georgia

Walton Rehabilitation Hospital wishes to construct a new facility on a ca. 1.6 ha (4 ac) tract of land on Windsor Spring Road in central Richmond County using federal (Department of Housing and Urban Development) funds. In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, they sought to have the tract archeologically surveyed to locate, delineate and evaluate the significance of archeological sites in the tract. An intensive, Phase I archeological survey of the tract was conducted on January 2, 2003. Archival review, including early twentieth century maps and the Georgia Archeological Site Files, revealed no known or suspected sites on the tract. However, the field survey, which relied upon surface inspection and the excavation of 23 shovel tests, located a mid-nineteenth century house site near the center of the tract. The site, given the state site number 9RI1091, is characterized by a dispersed, plowzone scatter of artifacts. There are no structural remains (such as a chimney base or building piers) or features (such a well, privy or house pad) associated with the house site. Since it is not depicted on a detailed 1916 map, it probably was razed by about the turn of the century and any associated stone or brick removed. The land has been farmed and timbered since then. We recommend that site 9RI1091 is not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places because it is not known to be associated with persons or events important in history and is too poorly preserved to be of further archeological value. Therefore, we conclude that the construction of the proposed facilities on the tract will not adversely affect significant cultural resources.