Cultural Resources Survey of the Thompkins Tract Columbia County, Georgia

Brockington and Associates, Inc. undertook cultural resources investigations of the Thompkins Tract in January 2003. The Thompkins Tract occupies approximately 126 hectares. These cultural resources investigations were undertaken to provide information concerning the kinds of cultural resources present on the tract and how these resources may affect the future use of the tract. This survey included a review of the history of land ownership and use through public documents, a review of previous investigations within and near the Thompkins Tract, and field investigations. The field investigations included the excavation of shovel tests at 15 and 30 meter intervals, where possible, across the project tract. The steep side slopes were investigated by pedestrian traverse and were inspected for rock shelters. The shoreline of the Savannah River within the project tract was visually inspected for artifact scatters. Investigators identified five archaeological sites (9CB608-9CB612) and the nine isolated finds (Isolates 1-5, 7-9, and 11) during the cultural resources survey of the Thompkins Tract. Investigators also revisited and conducted additional investigations at previously identified site 9CB197 (now known as 9CB197/613-Kratzer et al. 1995) and previously identified sites 9CB196 and 9CB198 (Kratzer et al. 1995) and 9CB1291136 (Rogers and Gresham 1991a; 1991b). Of the four previously recorded sites, only one (9CB197/613) produced additional artifacts. The remaining three previously recorded sites 9CB129/136 (Rogers and Gresham 1991a; 1991b), 9CB196, and 9CB198 (Kratzer et al. 1995) were recorded as low artifact density sites. We recovered no additional artifacts from these sites during our investigations. Two historic architectural resources (Resources CB-18 and CB-19) are present within the Thompkins Tract. The buildings were originally surveyed in 1993 by the Columbia County Commission. Resource CB-18 is a circa 1910 Saddlebag. Resource CB-19 is a circa 1930 Hipped Bungalow. Numerous alterations to each house have damaged their integrity of design, materials, workmanship, and feeling. We recommend newly identified sites 9CB608-9CB612 and the nine isolated finds (Isolates 1-5, 7-9, and 11) not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Sites 9CB196 and 9CB198, identified by Kratzer et al. (1995), remain not eligible for the NRHP. Site 9CB129/136, identified by Rogers and Gresham (1991 a; 1991 b), remains not eligible for the NRHP. We recommend Resources CB-18 and CB-19 not eligible for the NRHP. No further management consideration of these archaeological sites, isolated finds, and structures is warranted. Kratzer el al. (1995) recommended the eastern end of site 9CB197/613 potentially eligible for the NRHP because of relatively high artifact densities in possibly intact soil deposits within and surrounding a unit they excavated in that area. Investigators from Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted additional investigations across the site, with special emphasis on the eastern end of the site. Investigators recovered no artifacts and encountered soils no deeper than five centimeters over red clay subsoil in the eastern end of the site. It is apparent that timbering activities that occurred in this area since the time of Kratzer et al.'s (1995) investigations have deflated and destroyed this site. Therefore, we recommend that the eastern portion of the site is no longer potential eligible. No further management consideration of site 9CB197/613 is warranted. Development activities within the Thompkins Tract will not affect any historic properties. Ground disturbing activities within the Thompkins Tract should be allowed to proceed without further consideration of cultural resources.