Cultural Resources Survey Vol. 2, Part A, Survey of 7256 Acres of Timber Harvest Area at Strom Thurmond Lake 1995-1996

Panamerican Consultants, Inc., archaeologically surveyed approximately 2936.5 hectares (ha) [7,256 acres (ac)] in response to a Scope of Work for Cultural Resources Survey of a timber harvest area adjacent to Thurmond Lake, McCormick County, South Carolina. The District Forester for Thurmond Lake requested that a cultural resources survey be conducted in compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, executive Order 11593 (Protection and Enhancement of the Cultural Environment), and the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974.

Fieldwork took place between the middle of February at the end of May, 1995, for a total of approximately 65 working days. The purpose of the project was designed to locate and assess the significance of cultural resources within the project area by means of an intensive and systematic cultural resources survey.

The scope of work called for intensive pedestrian survey and subsurface testing in order to locate cultural resources, determine their horizontal and vertical boundaries, stratigraphy, integrity, and cultural association, and evaluate their research potential. A total of 10,197 shovel tests were excavated, including 556 that produced cultural material. The remainder either produced negative results (6,691) or were not excavated (2,956) due to disturbances, such as push piles or roads, slopes greater than 15%, standing water or surface visibility greater than 40%. Shovel tests averaged 30 centimeters (cm) (11.8 inches [in]) in diameter and were excavated to a minimum of 30 cm (11.8in), unless precluded by subsoil (clay), impenetrable roots, or rocks. A total volume of approximately 155.3148 cubic meters (m3) was excavated by shovel testing during this survey project.