Phase II Archaeology Investigation of Site 9HT42 at Robins Air Force Base

The mission of Robins Air Force Base has recently been expanded to include the beddown of the 116th Bomber Wing, a fleet in support of the Georgia Air National Guard and Joint Stars. In order to execute these missions, the construction of new facilities is anticipated. Construction plans include the creation of new housing on and in the vicinity of prehistoric site 9HT42, which currently in use as a horse pasture. Prior to construction-phase activities, the site must be tested for the presence of hazardous waste or hazardous waste constituents, which may have migrated from an adjacent site. As a result, the National Park Service tasked Geophex under Contract No. 1443CX502096007 to conduct a Phase II archeological investigation at Site 9HT42. The goal of this investigation was to determine if the site is to be included on the National Register of Historic Places. It was also conducted to comply with the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, as amended. At Site 9HT42, nine test squares were excavated, uncovering a Middle Archaic (6,000 - 5,000 BC) component in the northern section of the site and an Early Archaic (8,000 - 6,000 BC) component in the southeastern section of the site. New shovel tests were dug in the southwestern section of the site to refine the boundaries suggested in the 1987 Phase I report. The berm in the center of the site was of particular interest. However, based on the results of our geophysical survey, an examination of early aerial photographs of the Base, and the results from the excavation of a partial test square and an auger test, the berm appears to be a feature formed during the early years at Robins Air Force Base, possibly as part of a small arms range or during Base construction activities in the 1940s. Based on the research potential of the site's Early and Middle Archaic components, Site 9HT42 appears to be locally significant and eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. It is likely that this site could offer epexegesis for Early Archaic uses of the Coastal Plain uplands. Furthermore, the Stanly component at Site 9HT42 offers an unusual opportunity to study an upland Coastal Plain settlement and its assemblage of Middle Archaic tools in the "Upland Edge" context. Excavations have been recommended for Phase III data recovery if the proposed housing construction will have an unavoidable impact on the prehistoric remains in the vicinity of Square 3 or Squares 7, 8, and 9. The Phase III study should focus on the vicinities of the Middle Archaic component in Square 3 and the Early Archaic component in Square 8. In each of the two areas, an area of 20 square meters should be opened up by hand excavation. Before the initiation of the construction work, earthmoving machinery should be used under the supervision of an archeologist. No less than 20 centimeters (8 inches) of the plowzone should be removed from the immediate locations of proposed construction areas near the two components to provide an opportunity to examine larger areas for the presence or absence of Archaic subsurface features.