Archeological Testing and Evaluation of Two Piedmont Upland Sites (9CO45 and 9CO46) in the Allatoona Reservoir, Georgia

Between July 23rd and August 16th, 1990, New South Associates of Stone Mountain, Georgia, conducted archeological testing at two prehistoric sites (9Co45 and 9Co46) within the public use area of Allatoona Lake, under contract to the Mobile Corps of Engineers (Contract Number DACWO1-90-R-0037). The sites are situated on adjacent ridge noses overlooking Butler Creek at the extreme southeastern end of the Lake Acworth sub-impoundment, just south of the town of Acworth, Georgia (Figure 1). Both sites were initially recorded as a consequence of archeological investigations conducted in the reservoir by the University of Georgia in the late 1940s and early 1950s (Caldwell 1950, 1957; Caldwell and McCann 1947). In 1986 the sites were revisited by Southeastern Archeological Services under contract with the Mobile Corps of Engineers. Limited shovel testing at that time suggested that both sites might contain preserved archeological deposits below the plow zone and it was recommended that further investigations be undertaken to evaluate site significance (Ledbetter et al. 1986). The current testing project was made necessary by Cobb County's planned construction of a golf course that will include the land upon which these sites rest. The following report summarizes and illustrates the findings of archeological testing at each site. These discussions are followed by evaluations of site significance and a consideration of construction impacts and adverse effect to each site. Both sites are judged to contain significant deposits and appear to be eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. Mitigative options are suggested and analyzed in the context of the planned construction in the final section of the report. It is recommended that either avoidance or complete data recovery be selected as options to achieve the mitigation of adverse effect.