Archaeological Investigations at the Black Pond Site 38SU45, 38SU133, and 38SU145

Kenneth F. Styer; United States Air, Force Air Combat Command

Archaeological Investigations at the Black Pond Site 38SU45, 38SU133, and 38SU145

Summary

These documents consist of a data recovery plan and report on data recovery from the Black Pond Sites (38SU136, 38SU137, 38SU141, 38SU145, and 38SU133). Correspondence between Shaw Air Force Base and the South Carolina State Historic Preservation Officer and a macrobotanical report from the excavations are also included. The sites are located in the Coastal Plain province near the northwestern edge of Big Bay. one of the largest Carolina bays in South Carolina. Situated 50 km east of the Fall Line and within the Wateree River-to-Big Bay sand sheet. these sites offer important new information on a range of problem domains. including geomorphic setting, chronology. settlement patterns. site structure, and social organization. All of the sites are located on land owned by the U.S. Air Force and will be affected by construction of new target areas within the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range. Consequently, data

recovery operations at the NRHP-eligible sites 38SU45, 38SUl133, and 38SUI45 were performed to mitigate unavoidable adverse effects caused by new target construction. Likewise, Phase II testing was required at the potentially eligible sites 38SUI36, 38SU137, and 38SU141 that also will b. impacted by target construction. This phase of the current project was accomplished in

order to determine the nature and significance of these sites.