Archaeological Mitigation of Sites 9CE12 and 9CE2601 for Fort Benning Military Reservation in Chattahoochee County, Georgia

In 2009, the Department of the Army at Fort Benning Military Reservation requested a technical proposal for the archaeological mitigation (Phase III) of 9CE 12 and 9CE2601 in Chattahoochee County, Georgia. Proposed road construction activities in the area will destroy 9CE2601 and significantly impact 9CE12. Panamerican Consultants, Inc. (PCI) performed the archival research, data recovery fieldwork, and laboratory processes related to the Phase III mitigation of 9CE12 and 9CE2601 between December 26, 2009 and January 15, 2010. All work was conducted in compliance with Sections 106 and 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, with regulations implementing this legislation (36 CFR Part 800: Protection of Historic Properties), specific National Register Bulletin guidelines (e.g., Guidelines for Evaluating and Registering Cemeteries and Burial Places), the Secretary of Interior's Guidelines for Evaluation and Documentation, and with standards set by the Georgia Historic Preservation Division, Department of Natural Resources. Previous investigations at 9CE12 included Phase I survey work by David Chase (Chase n.d.) and PCI (Rovetto and Laird 2005). The Phase II testing was performed by PCI. Based on the results of the Phase III investigation, the site represents a large, multi-use site that was occupied from the Early Archaic to the Historic Creek time periods. This site measures approximately 265-x-230 m and is located above the Oswichee Creek floodplain. The eastern portion of the site has been disturbed by road construction. Previous investigations at 9CE260 1 included Phase I survey work by PCI (Rovetto and Laird 2005) The Phase II testing was also performed by PCI (Carruth et al. 2009). Based on the results of the Phase III investigation, the site represents a small, linear site that has been significantly disturbed. This site is believed to be part of 9CE12. These sites appear to have been separated by disturbances. This site, like 9CE12, was occupied from the Early Archaic to the Historic Creek time periods. This site measures approximately 160-x-40 m and is also located above the Oswichee Creek floodplain. The eastern portion of the site has been disturbed by road construction.