Sapelo Island: ARCHAEOLOGICAL EXCAVATIONS ON PUMPKIN HAMMOCK (9MC350) MCINTOSH COUNTY, GEORGIA

The coastal zone of Georgia is comprised of barrier islands, back barriers
(hammocks or marsh islands) portions of the mainland coast, salt marsh-lagoon systems,
tidal creeks, brackish water marshes, river channels, and maritime forest communities
(Elliott and Sassaman 1995:7) (Figure 1). Native Americans inhabited the Georgia
coastal zone for over 4500 years and they experienced changes in sea level and their
concomitant effect on resource distribution. For over a century (e.g., Moore 1897),
archaeologists have conducted excavations and research in the coastal region in order to
understand why, how, and when these peoples occupied the landscape.
Much of the archaeological research along the coast has centered on the large
barrier islands (e.g., Sapelo, St. Catherines, Skidaway, etc.) that abut the Atlantic Ocean
(e.g., Crook 1984; Thompson 2006, 2007; Thompson et al. 2004; Thomas 2008; Jefferies
and Moore 2008). Less well understood are the smaller marsh islands, also referred to as
hammocks or back barriers that are located between the large barrier islands and the
mainland. The purpose of this report is to document our current research along on these
marsh islands in terms of past human settlement and use.