Phase III archaeological Data Recovery At Site 9BK444, Burke County, Georgia

This report presents the results of Phase III data recovery excavations at Site 9BK444 in Burke County, Georgia. This work was conducted for the Elba Express Company, LLC., a subsidiary of the El Paso Corporation, by R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates, Inc., between June and July 2008. Both the Phase I and Phase II excavations documented the presence of dense, moderately deep lithic debris representing primary and secondary reduction activities. The archeological investigations conducted during the data recovery effort revealed a stratified site with a significant Early Archaic component associated with a highly weathered paleosol horizon. Although Early Woodland and Mississippi period ceramics were present in higher levels they reflected only short-tenn transient visits to the site; clearly the major component was the Early Archaic occupation represented by four Kirk cluster projectile points and high quantities of Coastal Plain flaking debris. In addition, two triangular Tallahassee points and one late stage Tallahassee R. Christopher Goodwin & Associates. Inc. preform were recovered from the base of the Early Archaic paleosol suggesting the presence of an ephemeral late Paleo-Indian occupation as welL The Coastal Plain chert found in the Early Archaic levels was apparently derived from a nearby source found eroding out of the valley wall overlooking the site to the south. It is inferred that the principal focus of the Early Archaic component at the site was procurement and reduction of Coastal Plain chert for replenishment of a suite of stone tools. The Early Archaic paleosol buried in the site can be associated with a comparable surface recently documented and radiocarbon dated on St. Catherin's Island. Tenninal Pleistocene and early Holocene paleosols with Early Archaic occupations have been found in a number of sites in the Southeast. In effect, Site 9BK444 is significant in that it has provided additional evidence for tying site specific paleosols with datable archeological materials to a regional allogenic genetic stratigraphic framework such as that developed on St. Catherine's Island along the Georgia Coast.