DATA RECOVERY AT 38AK155
As planning continued for the construction of the Surplus Plutonium Disposition Facilities (SPDF) on the SRS, it was recognized that a third National Register eligible site (38AK155) was to be impacted. In FY01 and FY02, data recovery was completed on 38AK546 and 38AK757 ahead of planned SPDF construction activities. Late in 2003, the SRARP was asked to complete a data recovery plan and submit a proposal for similar work at 38AK155. Archaeological investigations began on June 21, 2004 and are scheduled to continue into October 2004. Significant Components and Research Potential As summarized in King and Stephenson (2000), 38AK155 is a fairly large (120 x 200 m) prehistoric litchi and ceramic scatter, with an associated ephemeral historic artifact scatter, located on a ridge slope above a rank 2 tributary of Upper Three Runs Creek. Diagnostic artifacts recovered indicate Late Archaic, Early Woodland, Middle Woodland, Late Woodland, Mississippian, and Postbellum components at the site. Subsurface testing at the site identified two distinct artifact concentrations, one located near the top of the ridge slope and a second at the toe of the slope adjacent to the rank 2 stream. The first of these areas contained very sparse prehistoric and historic artifact deposits, suggesting very limited activities were conducted at that portion of the site. At the base of the slope, however, high artifact densities and preserved cultural features dating to the Late Archaic, Early Woodland, and Early Mississippian periods were encountered in a small block excavation. The features consisted of a stratigraphic sequence of rock clusters containing two very rare classes of materials: organic matter suitable for dating and botanical remains. Clearly, the integrity of the archaeological deposits present at the site has not been compromised by any post-depositional disturbances. Given the potential the site contains to produce more intact features, 38AK155 is expected to provide very significant and difficult to access information about subsistence practices and the use of upland streamside settings from the Late Archaic through Early Mississippian periods. Data Recovery Plan The data recovery plan called for the excavation of shovel test pits at 10-m intervals across the site area, except where slope was excessive, and the closing of that interval to 5 m in areas with high artifact densities. In areas of high potential, the plan calls for the excavation of a total of 200 m2 in 1 -m square test units. All 200 m2 are to be excavated to a depth of 70 cm below surface to record the Mississippian, Woodland, and Archaic components of the site. As has become standard practice for large-scale excavations on the SRS, all diagnostic and formal stone artifacts, and all pottery and other stone material larger than 3 cm in diameter are to be plotted in both horizontal and vertical space. In addition, soil samples will be collected from across the site in columns extending to the base of the excavations. Those samples will be subjected to grain size analysis, whose results, when compared to the vertical distribution of piece-plotted artifacts, can be useful in identifying occupational surfaces in sandy soils. Results to Date The crew excavated a total of 349 shovel tests, which defined two areas at the base of the slope whose artifact densities warrant further investigation. The first of the two blocks has been located directly adjacent to the units excavated during the 1994 survey, in the area of the site closest to an intermittent stream. This block is well underway and continues to produce a fairly rich record of activities primarily dating to the Savannah I phase. In this area, the site is covered by a fairly thick plowzone (ca. 20 to 25 cm), which has produced a mix of prehistoric and historic period materials. It is clear that this plowzone has been augmented by downslope erosion. The densest concentration of artifacts and cobble cluster features occurs between 40 and 60 cmbs. Although Savannah I Cord Marked dominates the pottery assemblage recovered in this area, some diagnostics of the Deptford phases and the Hollywood phase have also been recovered. In terms of flaked stone, diagnostic projectiles are dominated by Late Woodland Triangulars and Middle Woodland Eared-Yadkins. Conspicuously absent are any diagnostics of the Late Archaic and Early Woodland occupations suggested by the testing phase. It is worth noting that the expectation of uncovering Late Archaic and Early Woodland components was created largely by a radiocarbon date received from one of the features encountered during testing. Very few diagnostic artifacts from these periods actually are present in the artifact assemblage collected during the testing phase. One of the most interesting diagnostics to be uncovered in this block is the pottery type Woodstock Complicated Stamped. This is a Late Woodland-Mississippian transitional type found most commonly in northern Georgia. At the moment, it appears that the Woodstock pottery is mixed with the Savannah I sherds, and therefore is part of that component rather than a distinct occupation of the site. The implications of the presence of this pottery will certainly become an important aspect of the interpretation of this site. In addition to pottery and flaked stone, the crew is also recovering large numbers of cobbles. In some cases, these are randomly strewn throughout excavation levels, but in other instances they occur in clusters. These cobble clusters are by far the most common feature type encountered at the site. So far, a total of 19 features have been recorded, with the majority consisting of cobble clusters. Other feature types include dense pottery concentrations, or so-call "pot busts," as well as what appears to be small midden concentrations or secondarily deposited refuse heaps.