The following paper covers the results of a Phase I Cultural Resources Reconnaissance Survey of approximately 52 acres of land near Evans, Columbia County, Ga., conducted in response to a requirement of the Department of the Army, Savannah District, Corps of Engineers, Regulatory Branch under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The requirement is made in response to application 200302300 by Marshall Square for development of the are for commercial and residential use.
The survey consisted of walkover surveys, examination of specific areas of interest, shovel tests along transects and random shovel tests. A preliminary review of local archival sources was also conducted.
The only cultural resource of interest located by the survey was a small cemetery containing a minimum of nine burials. Five of the burials were unmarked, four were originally interred in graves with marble slab tops. At some point in time, vandals removed and smashed each grave slab. It also appears that at least one of the graves may have been looted.
Analysis of the field and archival data indicates that the cemetery is that of the Marshal Keith Plantation, established in the area in the early nineteenth century. Keith was a substantial local landowner, his son-in-law, William Jones, was a local cotton gin maker and is also buried in the cemetery.
While locally important, it is the determination of the author that there are no properties present deemed eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. It is recommended that the burials be removed and re-interred at a local permanently maintained cemetery.
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