Intensive Archaeological Survey of Proposed Improvements at the Porterdale Waste Water Treatment Facility, Newton County, Georgia

A Phase I intensive archaeological survey was carried out for proposed improvements to the Porterdale Waste Water Treatment Facility in Newton County, Georgia. The project was carried out in compliance with Section 106 (36 CFR 800, as amended 2004) of the National Historic Preservation Act by personnel qualified under 36CFR Part 61. The project parcel is located to the north and east of the existing wastewater treatment facility and measures approximately seven acres. The survey was conducted for Jordan, Jones & Goulding of Norcross, Georgia. During the survey, Brockington and Associates identified a dry-laid stone chimney (later cemented) within the confines of previously identified archaeological site 9NE26 at the southeast edge of the project area. Site 9NE26 was originally recorded as a prehistoric lithic scatter located atop a narrow ridge at approximately 196m (642 ft) above mean sea level (Crusoe 1981 ). The lithic scatter consisted of several pieces of quartz debitage, none of which was collected. No mention was made of the chimney during the original recording of site 9NE26, nor during a later site re-visit (Webb 1996). Ironically, systematic probing and shovel testing conducted by Brockington and Associates failed to relocate the prehistoric scatter reported at this location. Rather, a single piece of flat glass measuring 2.3mm was recovered from a single shovel test within the previously reported site boundary for 9NE26. Visual inspection of the surrounding area failed to locate any additional architectural features or historic artifacts. The site is encompassed in young pine regrowth forest and it appears that timbering has resulted in the removal and/or erosion of much of the topsoil. The 2.3mm-thick piece of flat glass provides limited evidence for an early twentieth century occupation, however, the drylaid stone construction methods suggest an earlier date for the chimney. The chimney represents a somewhat rare resource (an isolated, nineteenth century homestead) that retains some integrity of design, setting, materials, and workmanship. However, no builder's or footing trenches were identified. The single piece of flat glass recovered provides no information regarding the demographic, occupational, or sociocultural data on the landowners and shovel testing and visual inspection within the site area indicates that there is very limited potential for additional subsurface or extant features. Previous logging activities appear to have significantly depleted the uppermost solum of the soil profile, and hence, no evidence of the previously recorded lithic scatter at this location was found. It appears that little potential remains for identifying significant archaeological deposits in association with the chimney. Accordingly, neither the previously reported (but not relocated and presumed destroyed) prehistoric or historic component of the site is recommended potentially eligible for listing to the National Register of Historic Places nor is further work recommended regarding site 9NE26.