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Number 122, Spring 2004 The Newsletter of the Society for Georgia ArchaeologyHE ROFILE

Articles & Announcements

Meet the Board ................................ 2Indians in Georgia ........................... 3Endowment Update ......................... 7Backtracking de Soto ...................... 8Open Letter to Members ................. 8Basements in Georgia ..................... 9Spring Meeting Info ...................... 10Archaeology Month Events .......... 12Waring Lab Public Outreach ......... 15Ramble On! ................................... 16Remembering Walter Jung ............ 18

Regular Features

HPD Update .................................... 6CRM Notes ................................... 17

President’s Message

Continued on page 2

Spring Meeting Set for April 16–18 inSavannah with the Georgia Trust

Spring has arrived and for SGA that means ArchaeologyMonth and a unique partnership with the Georgia Trust forHistoric Preservation for this year’s spring meeting in Savan-nah—as participants in a “Preservation Collaborative.” Eachmember should have received information about the eventsplanned for the weekend of April 16–18. The schedule is in-cluded on page 10 in this issue as well, and there is still time toregister for the Friday and Saturday events. The afternoon atEbenezer is itself reason enough to put this on your calendar.SGA Board members are in agreement that the potential ben-efits to our organization and Georgia archaeology make thispartnering effort with the Georgia Trust and other preserva-tion organizations one we are wise to embrace. I hope you willgive this a chance and bear with us because any experiment isa learning situation, and we can assess whether or not SGAshould continue to participate in this statewide preservationmeeting each spring. The weekend should provide an excel-lent opportunity for SGA members to share our interest in thepast as well as our preservation concerns for archaeologicalsites. Even for those who feel that archaeology is not part ofhistoric preservation, there’s no denying the importance ofbelow-ground information and the need for its considerationand protection.

Plans for Archaeology Month are on track. The poster en-titled “Georgia’s Frontiers in the Soil” is based on and pro-

motes our recently reprinted book, Frontiers in the Soil: TheArchaeology of Georgia. A number of events are planned forMay. Take this chance to tour Fort Argyle and historic cem-eteries on Fort Stewart in Bryan County or an archaeologyfirm’s office and lab in Athens, hear a program on Archaeol-ogy as a Time Machine in Atlanta or a Lock Tender’s Life inSavannah, participate in a mock dig in West Georgia or hearplans for one in Southeast Georgia, help clean up a historiccemetery in Decatur or learn firsthand what the UnderwaterSGA chapter is finding out about the West Point submergedsite, and enjoy an Archaeology Day in Atlanta or Augusta. Checkthe insert (page 12) for more information on these and manyother exciting events. Feel free to do your own promotionwhether it’s giving a talk at a school, taking a copy of theposter to your local library, or sharing your interest in Georgia’sarchaeological heritage with a friend or neighbor.

As in past years, posters, educator packets, and event bro-chures will be distributed to public middle/junior high schoolsacross the state, regional libraries, parks and historic sites,SGA members, and legislators. Once again we will reach alarge segment of the public. Thanks to our co-sponsors whosesupport enables us to make Archaeology Month happen. Theseinclude the Archaeological Services Unit (Historic Preserva-tion Division), Brockington and Associates, Council on Ameri-

It’s all set! Join your fellow SGA members for a weekend of fun and excite-ment in Savannah and beyond, as the SGA meeting takes place April 16–18,2004. Our meeting is being conducted jointly with the Georgia Trust for HistoricPreservation, which is holding its annual meeting that weekend. For more infor-mation on the Georgia Trust, check out their website: http://www.georgiatrust.org.

There are a number of great events and activities to take advantage of duringthe weekend. Please see the meeting information on pages 10 and 11 of this issueof the newsletter, as well as the Ebenezer Ramble information on page 16. Someof the activities require a charge, so please look at the registration form on page11.

Also, it is that time of year to renew your membership for 2004. You can usethe registration form on page 11 ($15.00 Student; $20.00 Individual; $25.00Family).

See you in Savannah!

2 THE PROFILE The Society for Georgia Archaeology Spring 2004

President’s Message (continued from page 1)

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Name—Bob Izlar

SGA Title—Director

Personal Statistics—Married to Janice for 29 years. I havetwo children: Tate, age 22, who is getting degrees in PoliticalScience and Journalism from UGA where she says she is asenior; and Joel, age 19, who is a freshman at SavannahCollege of Art and Design where he is studying oil painting. Igrew up in Waycross and there I developed a lifelong love ofthe Okefenokee Swamp.

Education—I received a B.S. in Forest Resources and aMasters of Forest Resources from UGA in 1971 and 1972. Iserved two years active duty with the Army in Asia, and Iearned an MBA from Georgia Southern University in 1977. Ilived in Mississippi for nine years before returning toGeorgia in 1987.

Occupation—I’m a forester, and I am the Director of theUGA Warnell School of Forest Resources Center for ForestBusiness. In my spare time, I’m a Colonel in the U.S. ArmyReserve.

Where Do You Live?—On 20 acres in Madison Countywith a lake and river.

Hobbies and Interests—International travel, hunting,woodworking, reading, writing about the OkefenokeeSwamp and tending my bulldog Rusty and miniature dachs-hund Mikey.

Meet The Board—Bob IzlarSubmitted by Rita Elliott ([email protected])

can Indian Concerns, Georgia Council of Professional Archae-ologists, Southeastern Archeological Services, New SouthAssociates, Southern Research, and TRC Garrow Associates.Thanks also to those who are sponsoring Archaeology Monthevents.

News about a past Archaeology Month is that The GeorgiaStudies Book (8th grade text), which is being updated by CarlVinson Institute of Government, will include the photographof Kolomoki mound that was on our 2002 poster. The 2001edition of this text is the one that SGA member Rita Elliott wasinvited to review and comment on ways to update the materi-als and incorporate archaeological themes throughout the book.

In February, a group of SGA members attended the Geor-gians for Preservation Action legislative reception. The goal ofour continued participation in this annual event is to make thosein attendance aware of our state’s archaeological resourcesand deliver the message that historic preservation includes un-derground resources as well as buildings. In addition to ourexhibit, we took our “Archaeology and the Greenspace Pro-gram” brochures. Governor Perdue, who made an appearanceat this year’s reception, recently created a Governor’s Advi-sory Council for Land Conservation Partnerships. Though

developed specifically for the previous greenspace program,the information in the brochures is relevant to conservationacquisition in general. SGA also sent copies of this brochure toCouncil Chair Clay Long for distribution to the Council mem-bers. This is positive news because greenspace and conserva-tion initiatives provide protection not only for natural resourcesimportant to the state, but also for another non-renewable re-source—Georgia’s archaeological sites.

Also in February, SGA was represented on the Departmentof Transportation’s Transportation Enhancements (TE) Advi-sory Panel, as it has been since the inception of the TE pro-gram in Georgia in the early 1990s. Though only one of the337 applications for funding included the eligible category ofarchaeological studies and research, it was a chance to rec-ommend projects that have the potential to benefit archaeol-ogy whether it is acquisition of property in rapidly developingareas for bicycle/pedestrian paths or rehabilitation of struc-tures such as lighthouses that may require archaeological sur-vey in the process of compliance with federal preservationlaws.

I hope you enjoy the spring and take advantage of some ofthe archaeology-themed activities going on across the state.And I hope to see you in Savannah in April.

Betsy

Continued on page 3

THE PROFILE The Society for Georgia Archaeology Spring 2004 3

As a long-time member of the Georgia Council on Ameri-can Indian Concerns, I am occasionally asked, “Who are theIndians on the Council? Are they really Indians? What is theiragenda?” Most archaeologists working in Georgia have notmet and worked with local Indians and have gathered most oftheir knowledge about living, active Indians from the mediaand from federally-mandated consultation with federally rec-ognized tribes (e.g., Section 106 of the National Historic Pres-ervation Act or the Native American Graves Protection andRepatriation Act, or NAGPRA). Many Indians that attract me-dia attention in Georgia are not native Georgians, and NAGPRAconsultation is, by law, conducted with tribes outside of Geor-gia, since Georgia has no federally recognized tribes within itsborders. Thus, most archaeologists in Georgia, as well as law-makers and the public at large, have little understanding ofIndians living in Georgia today. In this essay, I will share a littleof what I have learned through my participation in the IndianCouncil and by examining 2000 census data.

Archaeologists and archaeological organizations (such asthe Society for American Archaeology and the SoutheasternArchaeological Conference) have made a concerted effort inthe past two decades to communicate with and engage Indi-ans in our investigations into aboriginal sites and issues. Priorto the creation of the Indian Council in 1992, we Georgia ar-chaeologists did not know who to communicate with. Cer-tainly the federally recognized Eastern Band of Cherokee Indi-ans in North Carolina and the Muskogee Creek Nation in Okla-homa were authentic, and a few archaeologists did engagethese groups, particularly relating to burials. We were right-fully reluctant and skeptical to communicate much with localIndians because we could not readily tell who was legitimate(nor could we even define legitimate).

Indians in Georgia in the 21st CenturySubmitted by Thomas Gresham ([email protected])

When the Georgia House bill that would eventually createthe Indian Council was first introduced in 1991, several of usarchaeologists met a number of often very vocal and some-times angry Indians in House committee meetings. In subse-quent meetings to refine the bill, we got to know these Indiansbetter and learned (as we had suspected) that Indians have awide range of viewpoints on their affairs. We quickly foundthat not all are angry, or vocal, or activists.

In 1993, in an action separate from the creation of theIndian Council, the Georgia legislature gave state recognitionto three tribes, the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee (basedin Dahlonega), the Lower Muscogee Creek Tribe (based inWhigham in Grady County) and the Cherokee of Georgia TribalCouncil (based in St. George in Charlton County). These tribesare essentially remnants of the nineteenth-century Creek andCherokee who were expelled from Georgia. Although some ofthese tribes have been seeking federal recognition, strict fed-eral guidelines and incomplete historical records that charac-terize many small communities in Georgia continue to handi-cap their efforts.

Some federally recognized tribes (mainly the Eastern Bandof Cherokee Indians) and many federally recognized Indianindividuals (perhaps most vocally Nadine Horne of Augusta)have railed against this state recognition, saying they are notlegitimate Indians. Many Georgia archaeologists were dubiousas to whether this was a politically expedient action, or a well-intentioned means to give Indians in Georgia some recognitionand clout. Some still wonder, and we may never know all thetrue motivations of this recognition act.

Most of the Indian members of the Indian Council over thepast 12 years have been members of these three state tribes.

Continued on page 4

How and when did you first become interested in archaeol-ogy?

I became fascinated with it in the fifth grade after reading alibrary book on archaeology.

Why have you become involved with the SGA?I worked on a joint project of my previous employer,

Georgia Forestry Association, and SGA to help notify largetimberland owners of the threat of artifact looting on theirlands. I was impressed with the people in SGA and theorganization.

The board development committee personally invited youto the selection process to become an officer/board memberbecause of your skills, talents, experiences, and back-ground. Please share with us some of these that enhance

your contributions to SGA.Contacts within the conservation community and an

earnest desire to do what is right.

What do you hope to be able to personally accomplishduring your SGA tenure?

Complete the process of letting Georgia forestlandowners know of their rights and responsibilities concerningGeorgia’s archaeological heritage.

What aspirations should SGA strive to reach within thenext 2, 5, and 10 years?

Expand the membership base and endowment.

Meet the Board (continued from page 2)

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Continued on page 5

Indians in Georgia (Continued from page 3)

Having gotten to know them as individuals and tribes, I am ofthe opinion that they are indeed legitimate and deserving of staterecognition. They have some historical basis, they have beenorganized and have held regular meetings for decades, they havemembership criteria, and they exist primarily to maintain culturalidentity and not for financial benefits. It appears, based on thesesame criteria, that no other group is or would be eligible for staterecognition.

So, who are Indians of Georgia in 2004? I can shed somelight on that question by three means: my personal, unscientificimpressions (broached in the preceding paragraph); a look atIndian Council members as a microcosm for all Indians of Geor-gia; and by looking at 2000 census data. As for my unscientificimpressions, and as a means to describe, I can identify the fol-lowing categories of Indians in Georgia: those belonging to nowout-of-state federally recognized tribes once indigenous to Geor-gia (Creek, Cherokee, Yuchi, etc.); those of federally recognizedtribes not indigenous to Georgia; those belonging to state recog-nized tribes; those who meet state or federal criteria for tribalmembership but who choose not to enroll; and those of Indiandescent that is demonstrable but still not sufficient for tribalmembership. In addition, there are many people who claim In-dian ancestry but cannot prove it. As with any ethnic group,Indians vary widely in appearance, politics, religion, and degreeof activism in Indian issues. Some dress the part, are very vocal,and attract media attention, while others quietly administer tribalgovernments and work at preserving Indian culture. Still othersmake no issue at all of their heritage and simply live their lives asmost Georgians do.

The Council on American Indian Concerns presently has fiveIndian members, who are pictured with two spouses (both In-dian) in the photograph on this page. From left to right startingwith the back row they are Paul Rominger, a middle school teacherfrom Brunswick; Rev. Ralph Crews, a mostly retired ministerfrom Folkston; Frances Crews, his wife; Nealie McCormick,the police chief of Pelham and Chairman of the Council; J.B.Jones, a retired county commissioner and current farmer fromDahlonega; Vonnie McCormick, Nealie’s wife and active chiefof the Lower Muscogee Creek Tribe; and Marilyn McGaughey,retired psychologist from Atlanta. The Crews and Rominger aremembers of the Cherokee of Georgia Tribal Council, theMcCormicks are members of the Lower Muscogee Creek Tribe,and Jones is a member of the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Chero-kee. McGaughey is a member of a non-Georgia recognized tribe.All have been active in Indian affairs in Georgia for most of theirlives and as such are attuned to concerns and issues of Indiansin Georgia. As such, they are a good representative body.

The 2000 census data (www.factfinder.census.gov) providea wealth of information on Indians in Georgia, and some of thiswill be capsulated here. Keep in mind that ethnicity in censusdata is self-determined using six established categories. Table 1

shows that 55,513 Georgians (0.68 percent) consider them-selves part or entirely Indian. Of this number, 21,737 re-corded themselves as Indian alone. Amazingly, there are 27Georgians who consider themselves members of all six ra-cial groups, including “other.” Table 2 shows that of the12,773 persons who said they were only Indian and whospecified a tribal affiliation, the largest percentage (44 per-cent) said they were Cherokee. Interestingly, the second larg-est tribal designation is “Latin American,” no doubt reflect-ing the immigration of Central American Indians to Georgiain the past decade or two. Including “other” and “Latin Ameri-can,” 36 tribes were named by Georgia Indians. Of course,if all persons who claimed partial Indian heritage were in-cluded (as they are on other data tables at the census website), the numbers for each tribal affiliation would increase,but presumably in proportion to the tallies in Table 2. Tables3 and 4 rank top counties by percent and raw number ofIndians, again using only those who say they are Indian only.Naturally, the largest numbers of Indians are found in themost populous metro Atlanta counties, but high numbers arealso found in Columbus, Augusta, and Savannah. However,Bibb County (Macon) is not in the top counties, while Hous-ton (Warner Robins) is. This fact, along with high popula-tions in Lowndes and Liberty counties, suggests that con-centrations of Indians may relate in part to the location ofmilitary bases. Counties with high percentages of Indians(Table 4) are spread all over the state. Combining numbers(more than 200) and percentages (more than .40 percent)points to the home bases of the three state-recognized tribes:Lumpkin County for the Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee,Charlton/Camden County for the Cherokee of Georgia TribalCouncil, and Grady for the Lower Muscogee Creek Tribe.The high numbers and percentages for Liberty County arenot readily explainable. Every county in Georgia has persons

The people pictured are (from left to right) back row:Paul Rominger, Ralph Crews, Frances Crews, NealieMcCormick; front row: J.B. Jones, Vonnie McCormickand Marilyn McGaughey.


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Table 1. Georgia Population in 2000.Category Count PercentTotal Population 8,186,453 100.00Indian Alone 21,737 0.26Indian & White 19,232 0.23Indian & Black 5,567 0.07Indian, White & Black 2,316 0.03All other combinations *6,661 0.08Total Indian or Part Indian 55,513 0.68* Includes 27 who are white, black, Indian, Asian, Hawaiianand another race.

Table 2. Georgia Indian Population by Tribe in 2000.Population Percent

Total Georgia Population 8,186,453 100.00Indian Alone 21,263 0.26One Tribe Specified 12,773 0.15Cherokee 5,620 44.0Latin American 1,733 13.6Creek 1,007 7.9Choctaw 427 3.3Lumbee 389 3.0Sioux 357 2.8Chippewa 335 2.6Iroquois 315 2.5Apachee 296 2.3Blackfeet 235 1.8Navaho 196 1.5Seminole 145 1.1Pueblo 113 0.9All others 1,604 12.6

County Percent NumberEchols 1.15 43Lumpkin 1.00 203Grady .92 217Chattahoochee .80 119Long .73 75Lamar .56 41Liberty .52 322Clinch .51 35Camden .49 216Dade .49 74Fannin .47 93Gilmer .46 107Rabun .43 64Charlton .42 43White .40 80

Table 4. Counties Ranked by Percent Indian Population.

Indians in Georgia (Continued from page 4)

who identify themselves as Indian only, with the lowest per-centage being .03 percent (in Telfair County). I was quite sur-prised to learn that my rural county (Oglethorpe) has 25 Indi-ans, plus many more persons who are part Indian.

In sum, Indians are everywhere in Georgia today, althoughgenerally in small numbers. While a handful of Indians makeheadlines every so often, most are quietly making a living andrearing children while trying to maintain aspects of their cul-tural heritage. Thus, archeologists and the general public rarelysee and hear from “real” Indians. Powwows and Indian festi-vals are a means for the public to see certain aspects of Indian

Table 3. Counties Ranked by Number of Indians perCounty.County Number PercentGwinnett 1,638 .28Cobb 1,579 .26DeKalb 1,548 .23Fulton 1,514 .19Clayton 751 .32Muscogee 716 .38Chatham 580 .25Richmond 552 .28Cherokee 534 .38Hall 479 .34Houston 376 .34Lowndes 343 .37Liberty 322 .52

culture, but the authenticity of these is decidedly mixed. TheCouncil on American Indian Concerns has met regularly(monthly) since July 1993 and constitutes a stable, respected,legislatively mandated voice for Indian people of Georgia. Inthe absence of federally recognized tribes, the Indian mem-bers of the Council are the most representative body of Indi-ans in Georgia today.


News from the Office of the State Archaeologist, Historic Preservation DivisionBy Dave Crass ([email protected])

Continued on page 7

Six years ago when the Statewide Archaeology Protectionand Education Program was launched, we could count on pe-riodic lulls in activity, roughly corresponding to the closing ofthe field season. Those days aregone. This is one indication thatour program has both expandedinto new areas (education pro-gramming absorbs more andmore of our staff time) and hasbecome more important to otherconstituencies around the state,like cemetery preservationgroups.

One of our most rewardingactivities each year is participa-tion in Weekend for Wildlife(WFW). WFW is a charity auc-tion, banquet, and field-tripevent hosted at The Cloister onSea Island in February to ben-efit the Non-Game and Endan-gered Species Section in ourWildlife Resources Division. Togive participants a taste of archaeology, last year we co-hosteda field trip to the Sapelo Shell Ring with University of Ken-tucky archaeologist Dick Jeffries (see Figure 1). This year weco-hosted a small archaeological survey at the Sapelo Light-house. Guests were also treated to a workshop and first-classlunch at the Reynolds mansion. Weheard a lot of good comments fromparticipants, who were able to seefirst-hand how archaeologists andhistorians evaluate a site. A specialtreat was the evening auction, whereGovernor Perdue was the keynotespeaker and a major participant in theauction itself. Ronnie Rogers, ourunit jeweler, crafted and contributeda spectacular silver Mississippian-style pendant to the auction. WFWis a terrific opportunity to showcaseGeorgia’s archaeological heritage topolicymakers and other constituen-cies that we may not always reachin our more traditional roles.

Jason Burns and Christine VanVoorhies have been very busy on thelecture circuit. Christine has been ona book tour, showcasing her cem-etery preservation book and giving

presentations around north Georgia. Jason has given a seriesof talks on underwater archaeology to a variety of groups,most recently including the Power Squadron in Rome. He has

been making a special effort tovisit the dive shops around thestate, building a network ofcontacts for underwater ar-chaeology similar to our terres-trial archaeology network. Onevery encouraging sign in thisarea is that we are assisting oursecond group of avocationalunderwater archaeologists toget organized in Rome. Madeup in part of Georgia Depart-ment of Transportation(GDOT) divers, the group isinterested in documentingRome’s many steamboatwrecks and other riverine sites.Ronnie, Jason and I continue towork intensively with the WestGeorgia Underwater Archaeo-

logical Society, most recently conducting an initial survey bykayak and canoe of dive targets and channelization featuresabove West Point (Figure 2). The Office of the State Archae-ologist (OSA) has been asked to co-host (with Judy Wood)the annual meeting of The North American Society for Oce-

anic History in Savannah next year, a signthat our underwater program is startingto get some traction…or swim or some-thing.

The OSA is continuing to work withDr. Sarah Hill on a Trail of Tears informa-tion-gathering project. We are visiting po-tential removal “fort” sites, and will com-pile an initial characterization of each onewith the relevant archival data for submis-sion to the National Park Service Trail ofTears office. In related news, we have beenassisting the Trust for Public Land (TPL)and our DNR Parks and Historic Sites Di-vision in the acquisition of acreage adja-

Figure 2. Charles Kelly (WestGeorgia Underwater Archaeologi-cal Society) inspects a wing damconstructed in the late nineteenthcentury to facilitate passage ofsteamboat traffic upstream from WestPoint.

Figure 1. Weekend for Wildlife participants and DNR archaeol-ogy staff at the Sapelo light oilhouse.


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News from the State Archaeologist (Continued from page 6)

Figure 3. This headstone marking the grave of a settler’sdaughter near Ft. Buffington is one of the few visiblereminders of the Cherokee Removal period.

cent to the Chief Vann House that was slated for developmentof a strip mall and trailer park. Vann’s slave quarters, stable,and other outbuildings stood on the tract.

We are working in closer coordination with our colleaguesin GDOT on several projects, including the Natural, Archaeo-logical, and Historical Resources GIS project. As noted in pre-vious columns, this project will put the Georgia Archaeologi-cal Site File, as well as associated documents, on a web sitefor access by archaeologists and historic preservation plan-ners. In our office, Bob Entorf is coordinating the production

of an initial historical archaeology overview and context byNew South Associates. This project is funded by GDOT aswell.

Realizing that the internet can be such a valuable researchtool, our OSA staff also has been hard at work trying to bringthe Archaeological Services portion of HPD’s website up todate and make it useful. Of course, website construction takestime so this will be an ongoing project. If you haven’t visitedour site recently, we hope you’ll check in at www.gashpo.org/archaeological services to find lots of new and helpful infor-

mation for professional archaeologists and interested mem-bers of the public, interesting highlights of our activities, andsources for other information. We’ll be adding more so keepour site bookmarked and visit often!

I close this brief overview of our activities by congratulat-ing Jim Langford on his recent appointment as Georgia Direc-tor of the Trust for Public Land. Jim has been a tireless sup-porter of our state archaeology program in HPD. He brings ananthropologist’s perspective to the organization, which I be-lieve will lead to new and innovative projects that conserveboth natural resources and archaeological sites. We look for-ward to strengthening our already-good relationship with TPLand working on projects together.

The Society for Georgia Archaeology (SGA) Endow-ment Campaign continues to draw contributors. Since thelast SGA newsletter in December a number of individualsand a corporation have provided financial support to theendowment. Those most recently recognizing the impor-tance of the endowment for funding archaeological pres-ervation work, research, and public outreach efforts in-clude Lewis and Yvonne Ewbank; Mr. and Mrs. CarletonCrabill (in honor of Betsy Shirk); Carol Griffith; TRC En-vironmental; Constance White (in honor of Terry Hynes);Jim Langford (in memory of Joseph R. Caldwell); JoelJones and Kathy Mulchrone (in memory of Greg Paulk);and John “Chip” Morgan (in memory of Roy S. Dickens).To each one of you, a very big Thank You!

As of February 6, 2004, the SGA Endowment Fundhas risen to $13,526. Supporters live across the state ofGeorgia and beyond its borders in the following places:Alpharetta, Athens, Atlanta, Box Springs, Calhoun, Decatur,East Point, Ellerslie, Five Points, Jonesboro, Lilburn,Marietta, Midway, Tucker, Sautee, Suwanee, Winterville,and Woodbine, Georgia, in addition to Alma, Michigan;Durham, North Carolina; and New Ellenton, South Caro-lina. Soon we will meet the first quarter of our $100,000initial goal, thanks to the generosity and far-sightedness ofthose mentioned above, those who have given in the past,and those who are preparing to give. Contributions maybe made by check to: The Society for Georgia Archaeol-ogy (“Endowment” on subject line), P.O. Box 693, Ath-ens, GA 30603. Please let us know if you wish your con-tribution to be in memory or honor of someone special.Won’t you join us in meeting our goal?

To Be Well EndowedBy Rita Elliott ([email protected])


Archaeologists in Georgia and Florida have put a great dealof effort into tracking the route of Hernando de Soto’s entradain 1539–1542, locating the villages they contacted, and identi-fying the sites of seventeenth-century Spanish missions. Aneffort has begun to better understand the archaeological sitesin Georgia and Florida by tracing the conquistadors back towhere they started.

The site of Leon Viejo in Nicaragua was founded in the1520s by the conquistadors as their capital city in the Ameri-cas, but was buried by volcanic ash beginning in 1580.Hernando de Soto, Ponce de Leon, and others had houses here.The ruins of some walls are still visible, sticking out of the ashlayers. Hernando de Soto departed from Leon Viejo for theconquest of Peru in 1531, and was never to return. The pre-cise location of his house is uncertain.

Dr. Ken Johnson, Associate Professor of Anthropology atThomas University in Thomasville, Georgia, and B.C. Nelsonof Lake City, Florida, began testing one portion of the site overa period of ten days in May 2003. They were assisted by stu-dents and archaeologists from Thomas University, Ave MariaCollege of the Americas in San Marcos, Nicaragua, and theNational Museum of Nicaragua. The work was conducted un-der a permit from the Office of National Patrimony in Managua.

In a 2 × 2-m test pit we located a midden layer 1 m belowseveral strata of volcanic ash and hurricane flood deposits. Itwas the ground surface when nearby volcano Momotomba

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Backtracking Hernando de Soto to NicaraguaSubmitted by Ken Johnson ([email protected])

erupted in 1580. The former surface, now Stratum 9, con-tains intensive evidence of the daily lives and activities of theSpanish and Native Americans in the first half of the sixteenthcentury. The single test pit yielded over 3,000 native potterysherds and thousands of animal bones from horses and rab-bits to fish and birds in excellent condition. Also recoveredwere several hundred “olive jar” sherds, several dozen orientalporcelain sherds, more than a dozen Spanish majolica sherds,and unidentified metal objects. Consulting were Dr. PatrickWerner, Ave Maria College, and Edgar Espinoza Perez, Na-tional Museum.

Several deep profile views were mapped, showing in detailthe “moment” that the volcanic eruptions began and buriedthis living surface and the entire city. Meticulous excavationand profiling reveals a very fine-tuned chronology. Futureprojects are planned to expand the initial 2 × 2-m test unit,expose a larger area of the living surface, and study the fine-grained chronology and activities occurring at the moment thatthe ash began falling.

This World Heritage site is important for the information itcontains on the social, economic, and biological consequencesof Western global expansion. Topics for study include OldWorld–New World contact, interactions between Native Ameri-cans and Europeans, destruction of the native cultures, andEuropean adaptation to the Americas.

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I am writing to all of you concerning a topic that many ofus have discussed in private, voicing our concerns. This isabout archaeological sites that have been excavated in Geor-gia, and have gone unreported. We have all wondered whensomeone would do something about this problem. After think-ing this over for many years, I am ready to take action.

I have written a letter to the Eastern Band of CherokeeIndians concerning one such site, the Hickory Log Village inCherokee County, Georgia. Please contact me for a copy ofthe letter. I am researching other sites and would appreciateyour input as people who are concerned about important in-formation that will be lost forever if we do nothing.

These actions will not sit well with some people and I ex-pect to pay for this both privately and publicly. I have steeled

myself against a negative reaction because it is the right thingto do. To support the ethics we claim, we must police our-selves.

You will hear of other sites in the future and some of youwho have contacted me recently will be copied with the infor-mation.

Once again, please contact me with your input, support,and even criticism, as I want my only bias to be doing what isright. Your privacy will be respected.

Thank you for your time. You can reach me at the emailaddress above or at 5489 Wynhall Drive, Norcross, GA 30071.

An Open Letter To All MembersSubmitted by Tommy Hudson ([email protected])


As part of a proposed intersection improvement in southFulton County, archaeologists from the Georgia Departmentof Transportation (GDOT) identified site 9FU411 (the SpierHouse site). The goals of this brief article are twofold: to re-port on a unique archaeological site and solicit additional infor-mation that may help with the site’s interpretation.

The Spier House site is the remains of an early to mid-nineteenth century domestic dwelling with standing chimneys,a stone and brick-lined basement, some original framing mem-bers, wells, landscaping features, collapsed outbuildings, andnumerous discrete piles of artifacts, both modern and historic(Patch 2004). Archival and documentary research indicatesthe main house likely was built or expanded by Allison Spierimmediately after he purchased the property in 1851. Based onaerial photography and informant interview, we know the housewas destroyed by fire sometime between 1974 and 1982.

Archaeological and historical investigations to date have in-cluded detailed mapping, shovel testing, formal unit excava-tion, and archival research. At first glance this site appears toresemble many other historic sites and there is little that wouldlead one to suspect anything unusual. Closer scrutiny, how-ever, has revealed some very interesting features that are uniqueand uncommon, particularly with respect to the remaining ar-chitectural elements: a stone-lined full basement and three stand-ing chimneys.

The basement is approximately 18 × 28 feet, and roughly4–5 feet deep. The north and east walls are constructed ofstone and mortar, the south wall is handmade brick (threecourses deep), and the west wall is dirt. The walls were coatedin plaster, traces of which are still visible on the north wall(Figure 1). Access was gained through both internal and ex-ternal entrances. Portions of the basement walls extended aboveground to meet the first floor framing, although it was likelyonly a few feet; the vast majority of the structure is subterra-nean. The floor is lined with either concrete or mortar, likelyadded later, obscuring the original floor and possible features.Interestingly, the rest of the house was situated on granite piers.

Constructed of massive granite blocks, quarried locally, andcleverly blended with handmade bricks, the chimneys are im-pressive for their size, appearance, and quality. The choice ofstone is interesting in itself, and one wonders if there weretechnical and/or socio-economic reasons for its selection.Considering the workmanship and overall setting, it is clearthat they were constructed by a master mason for an affluentfamily. The rear chimney is the most intriguing, with a fire-place in the basement and one directly above where the firstfloor would have been (Figure 2). Several other houses in theimmediate vicinity also have granite chimneys that closely re-

semble these, although none compare in materials, size, andconstruction technique.

The basement and associated fireplace are highly unusualand their presence immediately begs a series of questions: Whatwas the purpose of the basement? When was it constructed?Why is a fireplace/hearth present? Did the basement serve as akitchen area? Were people (slaves/servants) living there?

Attempts to answer these questions with any degree ofcertainty have proven difficult, although some hypotheses cannow be offered and tested with additional research. Informaldiscussions with other archaeologists and architectural histo-rians have generally resulted in the same conclusion: that base-ments are extremely rare in the South.

This conclusion naturally leads to another series of ques-tions regarding the actual rarity of basements. Unfortunately,there is no way to accurately quantify the number and type ofbasements statewide. A comprehensive survey of structureswith basements would be monumental in scope, and well be-yond the purpose of this article. Property information formsmaintained by the Historic Preservation Division (HPD) do notcurrently ask for this information, although perhaps they shouldrequire it in the future. Despite these hurdles, however, a fewpreliminary observations and hypotheses are offered here.

An informal, and highly subjective, survey of selected ar-eas around north Georgia indicates that basements occur morefrequently than commonly believed, although they are still rela-tively rare. It is possible that they exist in much higher num-bers despite their perceived rarity. However, there have beenfew, if any, systematic attempts to specifically record these

Basements in Piedmont Georgia: Observations from the Spier House Site (9FU411)By Shawn Patch ([email protected])

Continued on page 14

Figure 1. Close-up photograph of north wall.


Spring 2004 MeetingApril 16–18

Savannah, GeorgiaFriday, April 16

Noon – 5:30 p.m. GCPA and SGA BoardMeetings of Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists board (noon – 1 p.m.) and general membership (1 – 3:30 p.m.)and Society for Georgia Archaeology Board (3:30 – 5:30 p.m.) at Savannah History Museum, 303 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.

2 – 5 p.m.Check-in at the DeSoto Hilton (for those who register for Trust Collaborative events)Come by and pick up your program at the Desoto Hilton, 15 East Liberty Street, surrounded by magnificently restored homes,historic churches, and moss-draped oaks. Registration will be available at subsequent event venues as well.

2 – 5 p.m. Friday Ramble (Trust Sponsored event – $15 per person)Hop on a trolley at the DeSoto Hilton, and discover “The Savannah Tourists Don’t See.” Sisters Court (1894), for instance, at222 East 37th Street, was originally a convent and hospital owned by the Catholic Diocese of Savannah. Or take an in-depthlook at what Savannah is doing to revitalize its wealth of historic properties, including Brady Street, winner of a 2003 Preserva-tion Award, and the Gulfstream SCAD building (early 1900s) at 3116 Montgomery Street, originally constructed as a storagewarehouse and now housing the high tech needs of the SCAD furniture and design departments. You’ll also tour an arts andcrafts house (1921), 709 East 41st Street, and several private homes in and around Ardsley and Baldwin parks and the artdistrict of Starland.

6:30 – 9:30 p.m. Dinner at Roundhouse Railroad Museum (Trust Sponsored event – $50 per person – Casual dress)Enjoy cocktails and dinner at the Roundhouse Railroad Museum, 601 West Harris Street. Built and operated by the Centralof Georgia Railway from 1838 to 1963, this site contains the oldest and most complete railroad repair shops in the UnitedStates. Currently operated by The Coastal Heritage Society, it remains a brilliant tribute to the 19th century Industrial Revolu-tion.

Saturday, April 17

8:30 a.m. – noon (No Charge)Breakfast and the Trust’s annual meeting at the historic Lucas Theatre (1921), located at 32 Abercorn Street. Included will anSGA-sponsored orientation on Savannah area archaeology and presentation of our George S. Lewis Stewardship award. Analternate children’s program will be provided.

Noon – 1:30 p.m. Boxed Picnic Lunch in Reynolds Square (Trust Sponsored event)Step into Reynolds Square (1734), grab a boxed lunch and get energized for the Ramble

1– 5 p.m. New Ebenezer Ramble (SGA sponsored Collaborative event – no charge)Experience Georgia’s Colonial past at the historic settlement of New Ebenezer, established in 1736 by persecuted refugeesfrom the Alps of Salzburg. Located only 27 miles north of Savannah, this unique site bears silent testament to theSalzburgers and other colonists who struggled to cope in this new and foreign environment. There you can take a guided tourof the historic grounds, talk with site archaeologists, examine the revolutionary War redoubt, see an early Salzburger house,and maybe even see an archaeological excavation in progress.

6:30 p.m. Dinner at Johnny Harris’ (on your own)SGA members meet at Johnny Harris’, 1651 E. Victory Dr., for dinner (barbecue, chicken, steaks) and socializing.

Sunday, April 18

9 – 11 a.m. Brunch at The Scarborough House (Trust Sponsored event – $15 per person)Stick around on Sunday for a real treat and tour the elegant setting for the Ships of the Sea Museum. The Scarborough House(1819) and garden, 41 M. L. King Boulevard, was built for one of the principal owners of the Savannah, the first steamship tocross the Atlantic Ocean. The home, designed by noted English architect William Jay, is one of the earliest examples ofGreek revival architecture in the South.


LaQuinta (Abercorn) $64/night6805 Abercorn Street, 912-355-3004

Desoto Hilton $189/night15 East Liberty Street, 912-232-9000

Fairfield Inn $79/night17027 Abercorn, 912-925-5050

Days Inn Historic District $120/night201 West Bay Street, 912-236-1024

Days Inn Airport $73/night2500 Dean Forest Road, 1-800-329-7466

The Marshall House $179/night123 East Broughton Street, 912-644-7896

Hotels With Room Blocks for April 16–18

Ask for group sales and mention “Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation”

Spring 2004 SGA Meeting and Preservation CollaborativeRegistration Form

Name/s________________________________________________________________

Address________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip ___________________________________________________________

Daytime Phone #_______________________Email_____________________________

Please check the box beside the events that you wish to attend, and indicate number of participants.

Friday, April 16___ o $ 15 per person Ramble through Savannah (2-5 p.m.)*___ o $ 50 per person Dinner at Roundhouse Railroad Museum (6:30 – 9:30 p.m.)*___ o $ 60 per person Ramble and Dinner*

Saturday, April 17___ o No charge Georgia Trust Annual Meeting, Preservation Awards Ceremony and breakfast (8:30 a.m. –

noon)*___ o $ 10 per person Lunch in Reynolds Square (noon-1:30 p.m.)*___ o $ No charge Ebenezer Ramble (1 p.m. – 5 p.m.)___ o $ On your own Barbecue Dinner at Johnny Harris restaurant, 1651 E. Victory Dr., Savannah

Sunday, April 18

____ o $ 15 per person Brunch at the Scarborough House (9-11 a.m.)*

____ o Total for spring meeting/collaborative

*Trust Sponsored Collaborative Events

o Also enclosed (if applicable) is _________ for my 2004 membership dues. ($15.00 Student; $20.00 Individual; $25.00Family)

Make all checks payable to The Society for Georgia Archaeology.Please send payment and registration form by April 7 to:Diane Wynocker, 7960 Spalding Hills, Atlanta, GA 30350

Athens

Open House Tues., May 11, 4 – 6 p.m. Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. 565 N. Milledge Ave., AthensDescription: Tour of archaeological firm’s office and labContact: Tom Gresham, [email protected] or (706) 546-1850

Atlanta Area

Exhibition: First GeorgiansMon–Sat, 10 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Sun, noon – 5 p.m.Fernbank Museum of Natural History767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta

Description: Permanent exhibition that provides a cultural andhistorical overview of Native American occupation of Georgia

Contact: Fernbank Ticket Office (404) 929-6400Fee: Included with Museum admission (adults $12; students &

seniors $11; children 12 & under $10; children 2 & under andmuseum members free)

Program: Underwater Archaeology on the C.S.S. Alabama,2002–2003 Sat., May 8, 10:30 – 11:30 a.m. Bulloch Hall (cottage)

180 Bulloch Ave, RoswellDescription: Recent investigations of the site off the coast of

Cherbourg, FranceSponsor: Bulloch Hall Archaeological SocietyContact: Pam Billingsley (770) 992-1731Fee: None for program; tours of Bulloch Hall available on the

hour 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. for $6 per personLimit: 50

Historic Cemetery Clean Up Sat., May 8, 9 a.m. – noon Decatur Cemetery

Commerce Dr, City of DecaturDirections: One block S. of intersection with Church St, park in

Kroger (720 Commerce Dr) or church parking lot and walkinto cemetery

Description: Take a stroll through historic cemetery dating toearly 1800s then help with spring clean up

Sponsor: Friends of Decatur CemeteryContact: Christine Van Voorhies (404) 377-8968 or

[email protected]: None, but notification of attendance requestedLimit: 20Comments: Please bring work gloves and gardening tools.

Drinking water, trash bags, and friendliness provided!

Archaeology DaySat., May 15, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.Fernbank Museum of Natural History767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta

Description: Celebrate Archaeology Month with archaeology-themed crafts, activities and special demonstrations

Contact: Bobbi Hohmann (404) 929-6337Fee: Included with Museum admission (adults $12; students &

seniors $11; children 12 & under $10; children 2 & under andmuseum members free)

Lecture: Touching Georgia’s Past – Archaeology as a TimeMachineTues., May 25, 7 p.m.Fernbank Museum of Natural History767 Clifton Rd, Atlanta

Description: Presentation by Dave Crass, State Archaeologist, onwhat 130 years in Georgia have taught us about ourselves andthose who came before us

Fee: Free, however advanced reservations requiredContact: Fernbank Ticket Office (404) 929-6400

Augusta

Artifact IdentificationSat., May 8, 9 a.m. – 4 p.m.Ezekiel Harris House, 1822 Broad Street, Augusta

Description: Identification and dating of American Indianartifacts

Sponsor: Augusta Archaeological SocietyContact: John Whatley (706) 595-6852 or [email protected]: None

Middle Georgia

Lamar Mounds and Village Field TripSat., May 8, 2 p.m. (weather permitting)Ocmulgee National Monument1207 Emery Highway, Macon

Description: Guided tour to Lamar Mounds and VillageSponsor: National Park ServiceContact: (478) 752-8257Fee: NoneComments: Meet at Museum/Visitor’s Center. Wear casual

shoes and clothing (may encounter mud and water).

Program: Role of Archaeology at Jarrell Plantation – Pastand Potential

Mon., May 31, 1:30 – 3:30 p.m.Jarrell Plantation State Historic Site, Juliette

Directions: Located southeast of Juliette, 18 miles east of I-75Forsyth exit #185 or 18 miles north of Macon exit 171

Description: Learn about the role of archaeology at this historicsite; take an easy ½ mile walk to area not usually open topublic that has potential to provide information about theslaves and farm workers who once lived on this plantation

Contact: Bretta Perkins (478) 986-5172Fee: $3.50 (adults), $3 (seniors 62+), $2 (ages 5–18)Comments: Meet at Visitor Center. Not recommended for

children under 10. Wear casual shoes and clothing. Insectrepellent recommended.

Tour of Old Mill Village & 19th Century Craft DemosSat., May 11, 10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Georgia Archaeology Month Events— May 2004



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Scull Shoals, Oconee National Forest, Greene CountyDirections: I-20 to Greensboro; N on GA 15 (12 mi); Turn right on

Macedonia Church Rd (CR 1226); Go 2 mi, turn left on ForestRd 1234; 2 mi to Scull Shoals

Description: Guided tours of early Georgia mill town site andopportunity to see 19th Century craft demonstrations

Sponsor: The Friends of Scull Shoals, Inc.Contact: Maxine Singleton at 706-769-1777Fee: $8.00 per person (proceeds to improve site facilities); Chil-

dren under 10, free

Northeast Georgia

Program: Rock SwapSat. and Sun., May 22–239 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.Amicalola Falls State Park, Dawsonville

Directions: 15 mi NW of Dawsonville via GA 183 and GA 52Description: Designed for ultimate rock hounds, staff and

special guests focus on geological aspects of N. GeorgiaMountains

Contact: (706) 265-4703Fee: $2 per vehicle Park Pass

Northwest Georgia

Artifact Identification DaySat., May 22, 11 a.m. – 4 p.m.New Echota State Historic SiteHighway 225, Calhoun

Directions: Off I-75, exit 317Description: Professional archaeologist will identify and date

American Indian artifactsContact: (706) 624-1321Fee: $2.50 – $3.50

Savannah Area

Program: A Locktender’s Life – History & Artifacts ofSavannah-Ogeechee Canal

Sat., May 1, 2 p.m.Savannah-Ogeechee Museum/ Nature Center681 Fort Argyle Rd, Savannah

Directions: Unique collection of artifacts illustrating both thetechnology and lives of the people who worked on the canal

Contact: Chica Arndt (912) 748-8068Fee: $1.00 – $2.00

Tour of Fort Stewart Historic Sites and CemeteriesThurs., May 6, 9 a.m.Fort Stewart, Bryan CountyDirections: Meet at the Pass and Permit Office, Bldg 8091, Hwy

144 or at National Guard Armory on Hwy 84 in Hinesville.Bus transportation provided.

Description: Rare opportunity to visit Fort Argyle and 3 historiccemeteries located on Fort Stewart. Tour should end around3 p.m.

Contact: Jennifer Grover (919) 767-3359Fee: $4.50 for lunchComments: Advance registration requested.

Archaeology Tour of Ruins at WormsloeSat., May 15 - Tours on the hour 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.Wormsloe State Historic Site7601 Skidaway Rd, Savannah

Directions: From I-95, take Exit 16 to Savannah; follow signs toWormsloe Historic Site

Description: Interpretive tour within the tabby ruins. Informationbased on 1969 archaeological excavation.

Contact: Margaret Varn, Joe Thompson or Kathy Morris (912)353-3023

Fee: $2.50 adults, $2.00 seniors, $1.50 students 6–18Limit: 15 per groupComment: Meet tour leader at Museum

Southeast Georgia

Event: Archaeology WorkshopSat., May 8, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.Crooked River State Park6222 Charlie Smith Sr. Hwy, St. Mary’s

Directions: 7 miles N of St Mary’s on GA Spur 40 or 8 miles E ofI-95 Exit 3

Description: Slide presentation by local archaeologist onCamden County excavations and artifact display, ArtifactIdentification, and Presentation on park’s plans for 2005artificial dig site

Contact: Dan Butterworth (912) 882-8531 or 5256Fee: $2.00 per vehicle Park Pass

West Georgia

Open HouseSat., May 1, 12 – 3:30 p.m.Antonio J. Waring Jr. Archaeological LaboratoryState University of West Georgia1600 Maple St, Carrollton

Description: Laboratory tour, artifact identification; flint knappingdemonstration; games, & on-site mock excavation

Contact: Susan Fishman-Armstrong (770) 836-4303Fee: NoneLimit: 30 for on-site mock excavationComments: see www.westga.edu/~ajwlab

Open House at West Point Site “9TP973”Sat., May 15, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.Chattahoochee River, West Point

Directions: Downtown West Point; boat ramp outside FireDepartment

Description: Underwater archaeological site contains featuresand artifacts relating to over 165 years of local and regionalhistory, including an 1838 covered bridge constructed by aformer slave named Horace King.

Sponsor: W. Georgia Underwater Archaeological Soc.Contact: Charles Kelly (706) 882-5033 or [email protected]: NoneComments: see www.wguas.orgFee: None

Archaeology Month Events (Continued from page 12)



Basements in the Piedmont (Continued from page 9)

structural elements that I have been able to identify. Thereseems to have been no focused attention on recording anddocumenting these types of features, although clearly thereshould be. I now know of several specific examples of houseswith basements, including one in DeKalb County that is virtu-ally identical to the Spier House site.

Based on my limited work to date, I have developed severaltentative conclusions that would benefit greatly from additionalwork. Specifically, it now appears to me (and some colleagues)that basements are more common than recognized, they arenot always associated with high status dwellings, they are gen-erally, but not always, associated with the Antebellum period,and that they functioned as kitchens and servant/living quar-ters. Also, there appears to be some variation in the types ofbasements, from those that are fully subterranean to “day-light” basements, which are essentially above ground and havewindows.

A number of interesting questions have arisen as a result ofour work at the Spier House site, with implications well be-yond this site alone. Additional research on basements couldbe accomplished with relative ease, and could be tightly fo-cused around the following questions: How common are base-ments? Are they clustered in, or restricted to, certain geographicareas? Are they associated with a specific or single time pe-riod? Are they associated with a particular ethnic group orcultural tradition? Are they associated with a particular socio-economic class? How many different types of basements arethere? How much variation exists in size and constructionmethods/materials? What were they used for (kitchens, ser-vant/slave quarters)? Are there associated sub-floor featuresthat may provide some indication of group identity and/or in-tended function? The downside is the requirement for somelevel of field identification and verification, a prospect that be-comes daunting when one considers the number of historichouses across Georgia.

As part of an on-going research project I am seeking addi-tional information regarding basements, and hope to furtherreport on those results in the near future. Anyone who hasadditional knowledge, experience, or suggestions is welcometo contact me by email (above) or telephone (404-699-4436).

Figure 2. Rear chimney with dual fireplaces.

Reference Cited:

Patch, Shawn M.2004 Archaeological and Historical Investigations at

the Spier House Site (9FU411), Fulton County,Georgia. Report prepared for the Georgia Departmentof Transportation, Atlanta, Georgia.

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Don’t Forget that it is Time to Renew Your Membership!


As part of its on-going Public Education Program and in co-operation with the West Georgia Youth Science & TechnologyCenter, the Antonio J. Waring, Jr. Archaeological Laboratory at theState University of West Georgia is pleased to announce its Trav-eling Teaching Trunk and an On-site Mock Excavation. The in-struction components include real artifacts, replicas, activities, andresource materials that offer students an opportunity to touch, feel,see, and learn about the exciting science of archaeology! The learn-ing activities are designed to relate to various subjects like Lan-guage Arts, Science, and Mathematics. Each Traveling TeachingTrunk contains a Teacher’s Guide, special activities developedaround Georgia’s Quality Core Curriculum, and offer a generalintroduction to archaeology for the educator and students.

The Traveling Teaching Trunks are available to be checked-out by teachers in public and private schools. The trunks are in-tended to bring the excitement of archaeology into the classroomand introduce students to the science of archaeology through awide variety of activities. Most of the activities can be adapted toany age group; however, they were designed to correlate with 3rd

through 8th grade QCC requirements. Through the efforts of Su-san Fishman-Armstrong and several anthropology students fromUWG, under the guidance of Dr. Ray Crook, the Waring Labora-tory has developed two traveling teaching trunks. “What is Ar-chaeology” introduces students to many aspects of general ar-chaeology and the archaeology of Georgia. “A Mock Excavation”teaches students in their own classroom about how archaeologistsdig and record artifacts, and also provides exercises useful for

their later participation in the On-site Mock Excavation. Eachtrunk contains a teacher’s guide of frequently asked questions,special vocabulary, learning objectives, an introduction, indoor andoutside activities, online activities, and a suggested reading list.

The On-site Mock Excavation is a field trip to the WaringLaboratory where students can learn about archaeology by exca-vating with supervision at a site specially created for their instruc-tion. The On-site Mock Excavation gives the students exposureto field archaeology using mathematics, language arts, critical think-ing, science, and many of the other skills required by the QCC.Students get a chance to excavate, sift, record, identify artifacts,and interpret what they find. The activities are designed to workwell in conjunction with “A Mock Excavation” Teaching Trunk orcan be used alone.

For more information, visit www.westga.edu/~ajwlab or callthe Waring Archaeological Laboratory at 770-836-4303.

Waring Archaeological Laboratory Takes Archaeology to School GroupsSubmitted by Susan Fishman-Armstrong ([email protected])


Ramble Through the Colonial Pastat New Ebenezer

Saturday, April 17, 2004 (1–5 p.m.)

Directions: New Ebenezer is located at the eastern terminusof Georgia Highway 275 in Effingham County, Georgia.From Savannah, follow Georgia Highway 21 north pastRincon, Georgia. Turn right on Georgia Highway 275 andcontinue to the end of the road. An archaeological excavationwill be ongoing opposite from the New Ebenezer RetreatCenter parking lot (where parking is available).

Visit the historic settlement of New Ebenezer, established in 1736 by persecuted Lutheran refugees from the Alps ofSalzburg. Located only 27 miles north of Savannah, this unique site is nestled on the Savannah River, where theSalzburgers and other colonists struggled to Cope in their new and foreign environment. During your ramble you can:

6 Touch the fingerprints in the bricks of the historic Jerusalem Church, 1767–17696 Visit the exhibits in the Salzburger Museum6 Examine the Revolutionary War redoubt6 Talk with site archaeologists6 Walk the scenic nature trail6 See an early Salzburger house6 Take guided (3:30 PM) or self-guided tours of the historic grounds6 Observe an archaeological excavation in progress

THE PROFILE The Society for Georgia Archaeology Spring 2004 17CRM Research Notes

This feature briefly presents the recent activities in the realm of cultural resource management, including the private firms as well as state andfederal agencies. Due to confidentiality reasons, not all projects can be mentioned, and some details of location, client, and project name must beomitted or generalized. The intent of the column is to inform the SGA readership of recent ongoing work in the state, and to maintain an ongoingprofile of companies and agencies that conduct this work.


Georgia Department of Transportation

The Georgia Department of Transportation continues anactive research program in Georgia’s prehistory/history. Cur-rently the Department, under the leadership of Jim Pomfret, iscompleting archaeological testing at the Chattooga Town site(38OC18) in consultation with federally recognized Cherokeetribal governments. Chattooga Town, located along Bartram’sTrail in northeast Georgia/northwest South Carolina, dates tothe seventeenth and eighteenth centuries and is one of onlytwo known Protohistoric Cherokee Lower Town village sitesto be archaeologically investigated.

Shawn Patch has completed test excavations at the SpierHouse site (9FU411), an upland plantation located in Georgia’sPiedmont. The site represents the remains of wealthy planterAllison Spier’s plantation (1825–1870), and is distinguishedby a stone and brick lined basement that contains an associ-ated fireplace (see article on page 9). These architectural fea-tures are intriguing, and informal discussions with regionalarchaeologists indicate that stone-lined basements with asso-ciated fireplaces are extremely rare in the Southeast. Any in-formation regarding similar structural elements, their location,rarity or common occurrence, and period of significance wouldbe greatly appreciated and should be addressed to Mr. Patch at(404) 699-4436. As part of the continuing archaeological in-vestigation at the site, a public outreach component is beingdeveloped that demonstrates the Department’s environmentalcommitment outside of the regulatory-driven Section 106 role.

The Department continues the development of partnershipswith private archaeological consultants, Native American tribalgovernments, state entities, and the National Park Service onfour important environmental stewardship initiatives. First, theDepartment and Southern Research Historic Preservation Con-sultants are near completion of a research-oriented report thatfocuses on regional perspectives utilizing prehistoric occupa-tions located in the Big Bend area of the Ocmulgee River. Sec-ond, the Department is continuing its archaeological efforts atNew Echota (first capitol of the Cherokee Nation, 1825–1838)in coordination with the New Echota State Historic Site offi-cials, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, the UnitedKeetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Cherokee Na-tion. These outreach efforts will soon include a geophysicalprospection survey of the area believed to contain the remainsof Fort Wool (Federal withholding stockade) that is integral tothe Cherokee Traditional Cultural Property investigation un-dertaken in 2000 by the Department and FHWA. Third, in part-nership with Southeastern Archeological Services, Greenhorne

& O’Mara, and the National Park Service, the Department isnearing completion of investigations at Battery Hamilton (Fed-eral earthwork) adjacent to Fort Pulaski in Chatham County.In the near future, a copy of the Battery Hamilton archaeologi-cal synthesis will available through the National Park Service’sSEAC web page. Finally, the Department and FHWA will soonbegin an exciting partnership with the National Park Serviceand the Jimmy Carter National Historic Site Education Pro-gram that will provide grade school students a wonderful op-portunity to assist in the excavation of two Archaic/Woodlandsites under supervision of archaeologists from Brockingtonand Associates. The partnership, which is anticipated to con-tinue into 2005, includes an archaeological teaching trunk thatwill be used in conjunction with the excavations to help stu-dents learn and understand more about their cultural heritage.The archaeology trunk will meet Georgia’s Quality Core Cur-riculum Objectives and is one of three that the Department andFHWA is sponsoring (the other two will be completed by TRCGarrow Associates and Southern Research Historic Preserva-tion Consultants) that will be available on loan to any schoolsystem in the Southeast.

The Department is continuing to be a leader in cultural re-source training and initiatives that benefit cultural resourcemanagers and practitioners. This leadership role began in 2003when the Department sponsored the SRI training course “Sec-tion 106: Principles & Practice” taught by SAA President, Dr.Lynn Sebastion. In 2004 the Department continues this trendby sponsoring the training course “Ground-Penetrating Radar:An Introduction for Archaeologists” taught by Dr. LarryConyers from the University of Denver. Dr. Conyers is thenation’s leading authority on GPR and the course should ben-efit all training course attendees. The Department’s role in spon-soring training, sponsorship/partnership with the Historic Pres-ervation Division (HPD) of the Georgia Department of NaturalResources and New South Associates in developing two ofthe Georgia’s contextual studies (“Tilling the Earth” Georgia’sAgricultural Context and the soon to be published “HistoricArchaeology in Georgia: An Overview and Context”), as wellas our sponsorship (with HPD and others) and leadership rolein the development of NAHRGIS, clearly reflects theDepartment’s proactive commitment to the state’s culturalheritage.

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CRM Research Notes (Continued from page 17)

R.S. Webb & Associates(770) 345-0706

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In September and October 2003, RSWA conducted a sur-vey of 1,247 acres in the Oconee National Forest in JasperCounty, Georgia, for the U.S. Forest Service. We identified 32sites. Twelve sites are prehistoric and 20 are historic sites.Although no temporally diagnostic prehistoric artifacts wererecovered during the study, plain prehistoric ceramics wererecovered from three sites. Five of the historic sites are cem-eteries, two of which contain graves dating to the 1850s. Twelvehistoric sites are house sites. Eight of the house sites couldhave been occupied in the middle to late twentieth century, andthe remaining house sites appear to be later occupations. Twohistoric sites are wells with no associated artifacts or struc-tural features. One historic site is a feldspar quarry pit, whichwas probably mined in the early twentieth century.

A Phase I cultural resource survey was conducted in Julyand August 2003, near Adairsville, Georgia, in Bartow County.The entire project area covers 1,280 acres, and approximately1,095 acres of which has not been developed. Sixty-eight ar-cheological sites and 18 isolated finds were recorded duringthe survey. Fifty-eight sites contained prehistoric occupations,while historic use was recorded at 28 sites. Early Archaic,Late Archaic, Early to Middle Woodland, Mississippian, middlenineteenth century, and late nineteenth century to early twenti-eth century components are represented. Sites 9BR957 (largeArchaic lithic scatter), 9BR971 (Lithic scatter and mining pit,Late Archaic, Mississippian and unknown historic), 9BR974(unknown prehistoric lithic scatter), 9BR977 (large prehistoriclithic scatter), and 9BR986 (large Bauxite mine) were recom-mended potentially eligible for the NRHP. The interior portionof the project area is included in the National Register-listedEtowah Valley Historic District. A family cemetery and con-federate gravesite are within the Historic District as well.

From October through February 2004, RSWA conductednumerous Phase I cultural resource surveys in Gwinnett,Forsyth, Paulding, Coweta, Wilkinson, Henry, and Douglascounties. The reports on these projects are in progress. Wecontinue to conduct cemetery delineations, reconnaissancesurveys including Civil War surveys in Cobb County, and tele-communications towers studies across Georgia and the South-east.

Obituary – Walter G. JungSubmitted by Allen Vegotsky and David Allison

Walter Jung, a former member of the SGA and theGreater Atlanta Archaeological Society, died on Decem-ber 12th at the age of 64. Walt will be remembered formany reasons. He played an important role in the SGA,serving as Secretary-Treasurer several years ago. Hedid a superb job as editor of the Atlanta chapter’s news-letter. Walt had a vital interest in archaeology and pre-history, although he was not formally trained in thesefields. He was something of a Renaissance man withstrong interests and knowledge in many areas rangingfrom archaeology and flint knapping to politics, music,and social dancing. He brought to each of these areasgreat enthusiasm and commitment.

One of us (David) has a fond memory of visitingWalt in his knapping days. He found Walt sitting on hisliving room sofa, cigarette clenched between his lips,banging away at a big flake of chert with an antler bil-let. Smaller chips were flying over the thick carpet andfurniture creating an ill-defined path to the patio doorsand on to the patio. Walt’s fascination with ancient toolsand tool making led him to serious study. His researchresulted in presentations on related subjects and an im-portant paper entitled “In Search of True Flint” pub-lished in Early Georgia (Vol. 20, No. 2, pp. 1–18, 1992).This review of the nature and properties of flint is atribute to the potential for avocational archaeologists toadd to the professional literature. The thoroughness ofthis study was shown by the more than 50 citations toprofessional papers in the article. Walt also will be re-membered and missed for his great sense of humor.Many of us chuckled as we read his articles in the At-lanta chapter’s newsletter, which he renamed the“GAAS Bag” and his wit was probably best illustratedby his article, entitled “Lamarchaeology,” published inThe Profile in December 1989 and reprinted as PaperNumber 72 in The Profile Papers. Walt, we will missyour humor, your booming voice, and your insights intomany topics.

Walt is survived by close family members in Mary-land. Condolences may be expressed at ajc.com/obitsand donations in his memory may be made to St. Joseph’sHospital Heart Transplant Fund #10-00-30057 (St.Joseph’s Mercy Foundation, 5665 Peachtree DunwoodyRoad, Atlanta, Georgia 30342).


Use this form to join SGA!Membership in the Society for Georgia Archaeology is open to those who have a sincere interest in thecultural heritage of Georgia, and who will dedicate themselves to the preservation and understanding of thatheritage. This obligation is clearly stated in the Constitution and By-Laws of the SGA. As a member, youget:

6 A subscription to The Profile, the professionally-produced quarterly news-letter that keeps you up to date with all the happenings in Georgia archae-ology, with reports from regional chapters and information about endan-gered sites and research projects in which you can participate.

6 Two issues per year of Early Georgia, the academic research journal of the SGA with articles writtenby professional and avocational archaeologists.

6 Notices of semi-annual, statewide meetings of the SGA, in which you will enjoy varied programsand be in touch with Georgia’s best avocational and professional archaeologists.

6 Member discounts on special publications, such as The Profile Papers.

Fill out this form (or use a separate sheet) and send with your check made out to “Society for Georgia Archaeology” to:Check here if Renewing Membership SGA Treasurer

Name Date of Application P.O. Box 693Address Athens, Georgia 30603

Dues for year ofPhone/E-Mail (optional)

Individual Family Student School Major InstitutionalAre you employed in Archaeology/Anthropology?

As a condition of membership in the Society for Georgia Archaeology, I agree to abide by the By-Laws and Constitution of thisorganization, and to uphold the Antiquity laws of Georgia and the United States.

Signature Date

ANNUAL DUESIndividual $20*Family $25*Student $15*Institutional $50*Subtract $5 if you’rea chapter member!

Request to all SGA members and guests:

The SGA/GCPA Teaching Kit Committee has beenresearching ideas to make a protoype “archaeologyteaching kit” for Georgia’s public school system. The kitis to include replicated artifacts and lesson plans. If youknow of a “teaching kit” that has already been usedsuccessfully, and have not contacted a committeemember, please let us know as soon as possible! ContactCarolyn Rock at [email protected], preferably before theSpring 2004 meeting.

Jason Burns, HPD’s underwater archaeologist, iscurrently conducting a dugout canoe survey andinventory of the State of Georgia. Jason is looking forany information on recovered or recorded prehistoricand historic dugout canoes in Georgia museums orcollections, any sites or any rumors of canoes or anyGeorgia canoes in private collections. Dig deep intothose memories and pass any information along to Jasonat: 404-656-6607 or [email protected]. Anyinformation—no matter how insignificant you may thinkit is—will help piece this story together for Georgia.

Web Pages that might be of interest to Member, submittedby Lucy Banks:

Georgia Land Conservation Partnership:http://www.gadnr.org/glcp/index.html

The New Georgia Encyclopedia:http://www.georgiaencyclopedia.org/nge/Home.jsp(See section on History and Archaeology)

ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REQUESTS


Augusta ArchaeologicalSociety

c/o John Arena809 Shackleford PlaceEvans, Georgia 30809

Bulloch HallArchaeological Societyc/o John “Chip” Morgan12465 Crabapple Road

Alpharetta, Georgia 30004

Chattahoochee ArchaeologicalPreservation Society

c/o Debra Wells93 Glen Ora Circle

Waverly Hall, Georgia 31831

Coastal GeorgiaArchaeological Society

c/o Chica Arndt1253 Little Neck Road

Savannah, Georgia 31419

The Society for Georgia ArchaeologyP.O. Box 693, Athens, Georgia 30603

www.georgia-archaeology.org

Georgia MountainsArchaeological Society

c/o Dan Page5522 Concorde CircleGainesville GA 30507

Greater AtlantaArchaeological Societyc/o Jack Kilgore, President

P.O. 29061Atlanta, GA 30359-0061

Northwest GeorgiaArchaeological Society

c/o Jack Walker452 Benson Road

Dallas, Georgia 30132

Ocmulgee ArchaeologicalSociety

c/o Stephen A. Hammack3220 Ingleside Avenue

Macon, GA 31204

Ocute Archaeological Societyc/o Robert Cramer

254 Old Clinton RoadGray, GA 31032

South Georgia ArchaeologicalResearch Teamc/o Frankie Snow

209 North Grady AvenueDouglas, Georgia 31533

West Georgia UnderwaterArchaeological Society

Charles Kellyc/o LaGrange Dive Center

111 Vernon StreetLaGrange, GA 30240

SGA Officers

President Betsy Shirk ([email protected])Vice President/President Elect Lucy Banks ([email protected])Secretary Thomas Foster ([email protected])Treasurer Diane Wynocker ([email protected])Parliamentarian Allen Vegotsky ([email protected])

SGA BoardStanley McAfee Bob IzlarTom Gresham Joel JonesRita Elliott Carolyn RockMary Beth Reed Jack Tyler

PublicationsEarly Georgia The ProfileEditor Editor Adam King Brian ThomasManaging Editor Badger David J. Hally Jack Wynn

The Profile is the quarterly newsletter of the Society for Georgia Archaeology, and is provided free to members in good standing. Individual copies can be purchasedfor $2.00 by writing to the editor. All opinions, facts and information found in The Profile are those of the authors of articles and not necessarily those of the Societyfor Georgia Archaeology, except where explicitly stated otherwise. Questions, comments and submissions can be sent to: The Profile c/o Brian Thomas,TRC, 3772 Pleasantdale Road, Suite 200, Atlanta, Georgia 30340-4214 (770) 270-1192, FAX (770) 270-1392, email [email protected].

AFFILIATED CHAPTERS

P.O. Box 693Athens, Georgia 30603

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