Archaeological Data Recovery Investigations at Site 9ME292, Muscogee County, Georgia

Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted archaeological data recovery at site 9ME292 in Muscogee County, Georgia, between 24 September and 19 October 2001. The excavation team consisted of the principal investigator and six field technicians. Work was directed under contract with Jordan, Jones and Goulding, Inc., in conjunction with the City of Columbus. The site contains the remains of a Historic Creek period occupation and proposed development by the City of Columbus, which will impact the site. Previous archaeological survey (Schnell 1980; Benson and Gresham 1994) and testing (Gardner et al. 1995) investigations determined that this site contains significant archaeological research potential, as a result the site was recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The Georgia State Historic Preservation Division (HPD), The US Army Infantry Center (Fort Benning), and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation (ACHP) concurred with the recommendation. A Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between Fort Benning, the HPD, and ACHP with concurrence by the City of Columbus and consulting Indian Tribes, has been agreed upon, calling for the mitigation of adverse impacts prior to land altering development in the area. The data recovery mitigation excavations at 9ME292 were conducted in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA as amended). The initial stage of fieldwork was the establishment of a shovel test grid across the entire site. Shovel tests were placed at ten meter (33 ft) intervals. Artifact distributions and soil profiles provided by the shovel tests were used to determine the placement of excavation units and backhoe scrapes. 'The final stages of fieldwork consisted of mechanical removal of topsoil and the identification and excavation of cultural features in large scrape areas. Four 10 by 10 meter (33 by 33 ft) scrapes were excavated in several portions of the site. Within these scrapes approximately 30 potential cultural features were flagged. Of these 19 were burned tree stains. The remaining 11 are postholes, small basin shaped pits, and one large oblong pit feature. A total of 597 artifacts were recovered during data recovery, indicating a substantially smaller material component than expected. The majority (N=338) consisted of lithic debris, primarily quartz. Ceramics (N=259) consisted mainly of residual and eroded sherds. Of the 597 artifacts, only five were diagnostic Historic Creek. Site 9ME292 covers 38,400 square meters (125,990 sq ft) in surface area. The approved research design called for excavation of at least 60 square meters (197 sq ft). A total of 412 square meters (1,352 sq ft) was excavated by hand and mechanical scraping, constituting 1.1% of the site. Data Recovery at site 9ME292 confirmed that the site is multi-component with occupations during the Middle/Late Archaic and Historic Creek periods. The Archaic component appears to be the result of seasonal or temporary use by a small group focused on tool resharpening or finishing. The temporary nature of the occupation is attributed to the lack of cultural features and expedient stone tools within the artifact assemblage. Function as an area for tool resharpening or finishing is based on the almost exclusive presence of tertiary flakes within the artifact assemblage. The Historic Creek component at 9ME292 is the remains of a single-family farmstead. The overall paucity of artifacts and features associated with this component suggests short-term occupation. Evidence of European impact on the site's occupants is evident in patterns of site location, domestic architecture and refuse disposal. Based on the ceramic complex, ethnohistories, and historic maps, it appears that site 9ME292 functioned as a satellite hamlet of the large Creek settlement of Kasita.