Geoarchaeological Testing Investigations of the North Columbia Quarry Tract

Summary

"Between September 14 and 24, 2010, investigators from Brockington and Associates, Inc., and Geoarcheology Research Associates conducted a geoarchaeological testing investigation of 62 floodplain acres within the 508-acre North Columbia Quarry project tract in Richland County, South Carolina. This project was completed for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc., in preparation for the proposed development of quarrying operations and the construction of a new plant. The project was completed in compliance with the regulatory programs of the US Army Corps of Engineers (33 CFR Part 325)....

Investigators from Brockington and Associates, Inc., identified one archaeological site (38RD1372) and one isolated find (Isolate 1) during the current investigations. Site 38RD1372 is a small lithic scatter comprised of one translucent quartz Morrow Mountain projectile point, one translucent quartz reduction flake, and four translucent quartz flake fragments. The Morrow Mountain projectile point indicates a Middle Archaic presence at the site. Isolate 1 consists of one smoky quartz biface tool fragment. We recommend 38RD1372 and Isolate 1 not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Site 38RD1372 and Isolate 1 warrant no further management consideration. ..."

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Richland County

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: -3525 to -3525 (Actual radiocarbon date for the Morrow Mountain point found on the site (Dates - BC))

Calendar Date: -5000 to -4000 (Radiocarbon date range of Morrow Mountain Occupations (Dates - BC))

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contact(s): Richard Broughton; David Risner; Scott Ellis; Amanda Williams; Alex Fulmer; Darden Hood; Jonathan Leader

Contributor(s): Carolyn Rock; Shannon Dunn; Eric C. Poplin; Brian Falls; Scott Kitchens; Jimmy LeFebre; Michael Ryan; Joseph Schuldenrein; Howard Cyr; Juan Urista; Michael Aiuvalasit; Blair Stec; Anna Green; Damon Jackson; Michael Walsh; Meg Moughan; Geoarcheology Research Associates; Chuck Cantley; Beta Analytic, Inc.

Lab Director(s): Nicole Isenbarger

Principal Investigator(s): Johshua N. Fletcher

Sponsor(s): Martin Marietta Materials, Inc.

Prepared By(s): Brockington and Associates, Inc.

Notes

General Note: "Sampling conducted by Geoarcheology Research Associates revealed the presence of buried surfaces or soil units at 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, 3.0, and 4.0 meters bgs (see Appendix B). These reflect periods of stability in the depositional environment of the floodplain and times/places where people could live and work. All are derived from alluvial materials deposited by the Broad River. Fluvial actions of the river buried earlier surfaces with sediment and provide the source material for later surfaces. Radiocarbon dates for these soils indicate that 0.5 meters bgs is AD 1443 (Mississippian), 1.0 meters bgs is AD 1335 (Mississippian), 1.5 meters bgs is 3525 BC (Middle Archaic), 2.0 meters is 5280 BC to 3885 BC (Middle Archaic), 3.0 meters is 6240 BC to 5575 BC (Early to Middle Archaic), and 4.0 meters bgs is 8251 BC (Paleoindian). Interestingly, despite extensive deep testing in two separate phases, very few artifacts were encountered in association with any of these surfaces. A small scatter of lithic debris and a Morrow Mountain projectile point define site 38RD1372 on the 1.5 meters bgs surface. These findings suggest that the prehistoric Broad River floodplain in the project tract was not the scene of sustained prehistoric activity, and therefore warrants no further investigation."

Administration Note: This report covers phase II of Brockington's investigations at the North Quarry Tract. The report also contains radiocarbon dating, geoarchaeological data, and the overall assessment of the investigations at the state level. The assessment was done by the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Office.

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