Test Excavations at Four Sites on the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range, Shaw AFB, Sumter County, South Carolina

Phase II Testing of four archaeological sites located within the Poinsett Electronic Combat Range (PECR), South Carolina, was conducted by New South Associates for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Savannah District, and the U. S. Air Force, Shaw Air Force Base (AFB). Most of PECR is located in Sumter County's Manchester Township, with the southern end extending into Fulton, and the eastern edge crossing over into Privateer. The four sites under examination are, from north to south, 38SU18, 38SU196, 38SU243, and 38SU150. Of these four, one was originally recorded as a historic site (38SU196), two were prehistoric (38SU18 and 38SU243), and the fourth (38SU 150) contained both historic and prehistoric components. The testing phase was performed in order to determine the nature and significance of these sites as well as to gather information which would facilitate the responsible management of these resources. Methods used to evaluate the sites included close interval shovel testing and test unit excavations at locations where artifact concentrations indicated the possible presence of intact cultural components or artifact clusters. Sites 38SU18, 38SU243, and SU38150 were evaluated as eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The historic site 38SU196 was judged no eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places.