Owner/Client
A.O. Smith Corporation
Location
Ashland City, TN
CEC Services
- Archaeological Investigations
Owner Objective
Under contract with A.O. Smith Corporation (AOS), CEC completed a Phase I archaeological investigation for the proposed AOS flood control and USACE land exchange on the floodplain of the Cumberland River just west of the AOS plant. The purpose of the investigation was to determine if any cultural resources will be impacted by the proposed project. The project area consists of 5.3 acres [ARPA permit DACW62-4-16-0203] of USACE owned land and 47.8 acres of AOS owned land.
CEC Approach
Two sites were investigated during this study, 40CH81 and 40CH206. Site 40CH81 was previously recorded and 40CH206 was recorded by the current investigation. Site 40CH81 is a large, dense prehistoric field camp or village associated with the Early/Middle/Late Archaic, Middle/Late Woodland, and Mississippian periods on a small rise in the Cumberland River/Marrowbone
Creek floodplain. The site was revisited during the AOS flood control project to determine if the northern boundary could be located and if it was possible to determine whether the site encroached into the current AOS project area. Based on the current investigation 40CH81 does not extend into the AOS project area. The site is potentially eligible for the NRHP.
Site 40CH206 is a small, dense prehistoric artifact scatter on a slight rise above the floodplain of the Cumberland River on a terrace/footslope landform. The dense artifact assemblage and wider range of activities suggest that 40CH206 represents a field camp associated with at least the Middle Woodland period. Consequently, 40CH206 is recommended potentially eligible for the NRHP and pending consultation with the USACE further investigations may need to occur.
Based on the geomorphological investigations, archaeological resources over the project area will be at or near the ground surface. No buried surfaces with the possibility of containing cultural resources were observed. No further work was recommended for the AOS project area
