Archaeological Investigations of Civil War Trenches and Three Historic House Sites Along the Proposed East-West Connector, Cobb County, Georgia

This report documents the results of the investigations of selected cultural resources (9CO297, 9CO298, 9CO299, and 9CO300) along the proposed East-West Connector, Cobb County, Georgia. These four sites were selected for further investigation based on the results of an earlier reconnaissance survey (Stoops 1991). This survey report recommended that these sites were potentially eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. They each contained the potential to yield significant information about a time period and socioeconomic group which have been largely ignored by historians and have received little attention from the archaeological community. Each of these sites was relatively undisturbed at the time of discovery, so the potential for encountering reasonably intact remains was considered to be very good. Of particular interest in this set of sites was House Site #1 (9CO297). Based on surface examinations made at the time of discovery, the subsurface deposits seemed to be particularly well preserved. In addition to these considerations, its location put it within the proximity of the mill complex along Nickajack Creek. The possibility that the inhabitants of this house were part of the economic network of the mills was considered very high. In fact, subsequent deed research revealed that the house was part of the Concord Mill Property. Also investigated were two earthen fortifications associated with Confederate General Hood's encampment to the north of the project area. These structures were constructed on a knoll for use during the subsequent Battle of Ruff's Mill, which occurred on July 4, 1864. Subsurface testing was conducted across the knoll, and the trenches themselves were profiled.