Phase I Archaeological Survey of 4,147.1 acres, and Phase II Site Evaluations at 8HG24, 8HG767, and 8PO3405, Avon Park Air Force Range, Polk and Highlands Counties, Avon Park, Florida
Creators: name: Headquarters Air Combat Command
name: Parsons Engineering Science, Inc.
Publisher: name: Avon Park Air Force Range
Year: 2005
Subjects: Kissimmee River
Arbuckle Creek
Lake Arbuckle
Okechobee Basin
Late Archaic
Early Archaic
Belle Glade II Period
Woodland
Archaic
Historic
Euroamerican
8PO6782
8PO6783
8HG1094
Zechiel-Bell Site
8PO6764
8HG24
8HG1096
Clark's Point
Stalking Gator Site
8PO6784
Lost Crew Site
Big Drink Site
The Big Jahn Site
8HG767
8HG1095
8PO6785
Seaboard Airline Railway
Scrub Jay Site
8PO3405
Sandy Hill Turpentine Camp
Encampment
Turpentine Still
Resource Extraction / Production / Transportation Structure or Features
Archaeological Feature
Artifact Scatter
Road, Trail, and Related Structures or Features
Cattle Tank
Isolated Artifact
Isolated Feature
Railroad
Domestic Structure or Architectural Complex
Settlements
Textile
Ceramic
Chipped Stone
Glass
Building Materials
Metal
Environment Research
Archaeological Overview
Site Evaluation / Testing
Systematic Survey

description: In 2004, Headquarters Air Combat Command (HQ ACC) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey and Phase II evaluations at three previously documented sites within the boundaries of Avon Park Air Force Range (APAFR). Between January 5, 2004 and February 27, 2004, a pedestrian and shovel test survey was completed of approximately 4,147.1 acres (1,678.3 ha) in the central part of the property. The acreage was stratified as high, medium, and low probability areas, as defined by a previously prepared predictive model. High probability areas comprised 551.8 ac (223.3 ha), or 13 percent of the total acreage; medium probability areas comprised 1,714.5 ac (693.9 ha), or 41 percent of the acreage; and low probability areas comprised 1,880.8 ac (761.2 ha), or 46 percent of the acreage. In total, 5,236 shovel test pits were excavated at varying intervals within these survey areas. The Phase I survey resulted in the identification of five new sites: Clark’s Point (8HG1094), Lost Crew (8HG1096), Seaboard Airline Railway (8HG1095/8PO6785), Big Drink (8PO6782), and Stalking Gator (8PO6784). In addition, supplemental data was recorded for one previously identified but undocumented site, Zechiel Bell (8PO6783). Of the sites documented in the survey, two—Seaboard Airline Railway (8HG1095/8PO6785) and Zechiel Bell (8PO6783)—are recommended potentially eligible to the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). These sites should be avoided or subjected to further testing to evaluate eligibility. The remaining sites—Clark’s Point (8HG1094), Lost Crew (8HG1096), Big Drink (8PO6782), and Stalking Gator (8PO6784)—are recommended not eligible to the NRHP. Subsequently, between March 1, 2004, and March 26, 2004, Phase II evaluations were conducted at the three previously recorded sites—Sandy Hill Turpentine Camp (8HG24), Big Jahn (8HG767), and Scrub Jay (8PO3405). The work included detailed mapping, the excavation of nineteen 1 m x 2 m test units, the collection of three soil columns for special analysis, and laboratory analysis of all recovered artifacts. Based on the evaluations, the Sandy Hill Turpentine Camp (8HG24) and the Scrub Jay Site (8PO3405) are recommended eligible for nomination to the NRHP. The Big Jahn Site (8HG767) is recommended potentially eligible to the NRHP.