An Intensive Cultural Resource Assessment Survey of the Homerville Water and Sewer Services Tract, Clinch County, Georgia

In September of 2003, Environmental Services, Inc., conducted an intensive cultural resource assessment survey of the Homerville Water and Sewer Services tract in Clinch County, Georgia. This 36-acre parcel is located southwest of Homerville, Georgia, immediately north of U.S. Highway 84 (Figure 1 ). The archaeological study was requested by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (GADNR) on behalf of the Clinch County Development Authority in order to comply with Section 106 Review of the National Historic Preservation Act. The goal of the survey was to locate, delineate, identify and evaluate all cultural resources within the proposed project area, and to assess their significance and potential eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places in accordance with National Register Criteria (36 CFR 60.4). Based on consultation with Joey Charles, Review Archaeologist at the GADNR, the standard Georgia report format, as defined in the Georgia Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Surveys (GCP A 200 I: 18-23 ), has been modified to include only: an introduction, project results, recommendations, and references cited. The term "cultural resources" as used herein is meant to refer to sites or objects that are archaeological, architectural, and/or historical in nature. Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (PL 89-665, as amended) requires that federal agencies take into account the effects upon historic properties projects involving federal funding and/or permitting. The guidelines for fulfilling the provisions of Section 106 and determinations of effect are contained in the implementing regulations of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Title 36, Chapter VIII, Part 800 (36 CFR 800). All cultural resources within the project tract were evaluated for eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in accordance with National Register Criteria (36 CFR 60). "Significant" historic properties are those meeting the criteria of eligibility for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, as defined in 36 CFR 60.4, and in consultation with the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). The majority of the tract is covered by open fields that contain poorly drained soils. A subtle east-west oriented ridge of moderately well drained soil covers just under half of the property. Strawberry patches and blackberry rows are in the western section of the property along with a modern warehouse called the Strawberry Patch, which was built in 1999. A historic building is located in the southeastern section of the property at 215 U.S. Hwy 84. The fieldwork strategies included a pedestrian inspection coupled with systematic shovel testing at 15 and 30 meter intervals in the elevated areas and judgmental testing in proximity to low, wet areas. All shovel tests (n=l 04) were dug to a depth of 80 centimeters unless ste1ile subsoil was encountered first. Jennifer Nash and Greg Gonzales conducted the field study under the direction of Greg Hendryx and Marsha A. Chance, Principal Investigator. As a result of the survey, one archaeological site (9CI 182) was encountered that included an early 20th century standing building and an associated subsurface artifact scatter, and one isolated prehistoric artifact. Based on the nature of the deposits and the condition of the structure, 9Cll82 is not considered eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places.