Archaeological Investigation of the Marine Railway Site, Hutchinson's Island, Savannah, Georgia

摘要

The archaeological investigation produced a small amount of material. Some of 2242 artifacts were recovered, most of which dated to the later nineteenth century and were concerned with ship or machinery repair. The significant artifacts, however, were the remains of structures relating to the operation of a marine railway which occupied the site. Research indicated that the marine railway was built and operated by H. F. Willink, Jr. from 1873 to 1898. The historical research revealed that the site appeared to be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places based on its association with people and events important to Savannah's history. Cultural features discovered during the testing included in the railway track, plank flooring, and a brick scatter. The testing revealed that, due to mixing of railway era deposits with layers of fill material, archaeological excavation of the site would provide little additional significant information. Preservation in place was not recommended.