Phase I and Phase II Archaeological Investigations of Site 38SU62, Shaw Air Force Base, Sumter County, South Carolina

Summary

Phase I and Phase II Archaeological Investigations of one historic site (38SU62) were performed at Shaw Air Force Base in Sumter County, South Carolina. The work was accomplished by New South Associates, Inc, subcontractor for Geo-Marine Inc., for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District, and the U.S. Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base (AFB). Initially site 38SU62 was believed to represent an earlier occupation in the area. Artifacts recovered from surface collection during the previous work included decorated ceramics and olive green container glass, dating from the 1830s to the 1860s, as well as two prehistoric chert flakes. Artifacts recovered during Phase I/II testing and historical research indicate that site 38SU62 is an early twentieth-century historic scatter associated with a small farm owned and operated by Mathew Wiley. Historical documentation provides that Wiley is of African–American descent and owned the land between 1945 and 1974. Artifacts recovered from a small portion along the eastern boundary of the site are likely associated with an earlier occupation in the area. However, no intact midden was encountered in this area and an erosional gully passes through the area. It is likely that a majority of the nineteenth-century site was impacted by past construction of residential housing and the Wiley occupation. A large portion of the artifact assemblage is related to Wiley’s occupation. A possible posthole was recorded; however, no intact archaeological deposits or subsurface structures were encountered and evidence of mechanical ground disturbance was present. No prehistoric artifacts were encountered during initial subsurface testing and therefore, this component was not investigated during Phase II testing.

Although few sites related to African-American farm owners in the region have been studied, site 38SU62 lacks archaeological integrity and is recommended as not eligible for the National Register of Historical Places and no further work is needed.

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Shaw Air Force Base Archaeology Archive - Documents, Images, and other Data

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1830 to 1860

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Shaw Air Force Base

Collaborator(s): Geo-Marine, Inc.

Landowner(s): Shaw Air Force Base

Prepared By(s): New South Associates, Inc.

Submitted To(s): US Army Corps of Engineers, Fort Worth District

Record Identifiers

Contract Number(s): W9126G-05-D-0009

Task Number(s): 018

USAF Air Combat Command Series(s): #43

Project Number(s): 10509.00.18

Notes

Redaction Note: If you would like access to the full document, you may request it from the following office: Office of the USAF Cultural Resource Subject Matter Expert AF Civil Engineer Center 2261 Hughes Ave JBSA Lackland, TX 78236-9853

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