Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas,
Inc. (ACC) 
conducted Phase III Data Recovery investigations at site
38HR496 in Horry County, South Carolina. This data recovery strove to
mitigate the destruction of site 38HR496 by allowing for the systematic
exploration and recovery of its deposits. It was guided by a series of
research questions developed utilizing the data gathered during Phase I
and Phase II investigations of this site and focused on current research
issues in the region.
Occupation of this site spanned the Early Archaic through Mississippian periods. Further use of the site area continued during the Historic period in the form of farming and logging and use as a spoil dump. Based on the artifact assemblage, the Archaic occupation was intermittent. Evidence of the Archaic occupation includes Early Archaic scrapers, Middle Archaic Morrow Mountain projectile points, and Late Archaic Savannah River projectile points and Thoms Creek ceramics. For the most part, these diagnostic artifacts were recovered at the lowest excavation levels. The Woodland occupation appears to have been substantial over time.
During the course of the data recovery, it became apparent that the Mississippian component at 38HR496 was more substantial than was apparent from test excavations. Abundant Pee Dee Complicated Stamped sherds were recovered and these wares dominated the vessel assemblage. Nine of the cultural features identified were determined to be Mississippian pits and five of these contained corn remains. Radiocarbon dates obtained from charred material collected from these pits fell within the Middle to Late Woodland subperiods, indicating the overlap in site occupation over multiple time periods. However, a radiocarbon date obtained for corn cupules recovered from one of the pit features falls firmly within the Mississippian Period.
Data recovery at 38HR496 has provided a wealth of information about prehistoric life along the Waccamaw River, particularly on the Mississippian occupation. This site is one of the largest Mississippian sites identified to date on the northern South Carolina coast. Considering that 10 years ago a Mississippian presence was not believed to have been present, a great deal of research is still needed to fully understand the extent of the Mississippian presence in this area. It is our hope that one day we will have enough data to be able to define the Waccamaw Mississippian chiefdom
