Phase I Archaeological Survey – Survey Areas TY-0197 and TY-0198, Tyndall Air Force Base, Bay County, Florida

In February 2023, WSP USA Environment & Infrastructure, Inc. (WSP) completed a Phase I archaeological survey of approximately 194.9-hectares (ha) [481.5-acres (ac)] for Survey Areas TY-197 and TY-0198 (Task Order TY-22-0023) at Tyndall Air Force Base (AFB) in Bay County, Florida (Figures 1 and 2). The purpose of the archaeological survey was to determine if archaeological sites are located within the survey areas and provide a recommendation of their eligibility for listing on the National Register Historic Places (NRHP). The survey was conducted to meet the requirements of Section 110 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (Public Law 89-665: 16 U.S.C. 470 et seq.), as amended, and was completed in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards and Guidelines for Historic Preservation Projects (Federal Register, Vol. 48, No. 190, September 1983, P. 44716-44742, et seq.), the Florida Division of Historical Resources (FDHR) Cultural Resource Management (CRM) Standards and Operations Manual Module Three Guidelines for Use by Historic Preservation Professionals (FDHR 2015). Background research revealed portions of six previously recorded sites extend into or reside within the TY-0197 (8BY01915) and TY-0198 survey boundaries (8BY00153, 8BY00802, 8BY00803, 8BY00805, and 8BY02283). Consultation with Tyndall CRM staff determined none of the previously recorded sites would be re-assessed during the current survey, although the boundaries would be carefully examined to determine if sites extend further within the survey areas. A total of 611 Survey Shovel Tests (SST) (152.75 m3) were excavated for this task order, with an additional 123 Recording Shovel Tests (RST) (30.75 m3) excavated during site delineations. A total of 254 ac (106 ha) was found to be inundated at the time of survey and or that were covered in dense vegetation and tree fall and could not be accessed for survey. During the current survey extensions to two of the previously recorded sites (8BY01915 and 8BY00153) were documented. Site 8BY01915 was a shell midden site in secondary (redeposited) soils and was previously recommended as ineligible and no change to this recommendation is warranted. Excavations near 8BY00153 yielded historic surface and subsurface materials consistent with those defined for site 8BY00153 and necessitated a site extension. This site was concurrently assessed for its NRHP eligibility under Task Order TY-22-0026 and has been determined as heavily disturbed by construction and subsequent demolition of a housing complex that stretched across the site during the mid-to late twentieth century. The extended portion revealed additional historic materials with evidence for heavy disturbance, with mapping implying it also is attributed to the mid-to late twentieth century housing plan. 8BY00153 is recommended as not eligible for listing on the NRHP. This survey resulted in the identification of one new prehistoric archaeological site (8BY03229) and five new prehistoric archaeological occurrences (IF-1137, IF-1138, IF-1139, IF-1140, and IF-1141). Site 8BY03229 consisted of a prehistoric lithic scatter. Given the low density of material recovered and the lack of subsurface features the site is unlikely to yield significant information regarding prehistoric occupation on Tyndall AFB and is recommended ineligible for the NRHP. The five archaeological occurrences all consist of two or less prehistoric artifacts and are unlikely to yield important information concerning prehistoric occupations on Tyndall AFB or in the Florida Panhandle; therefore, all five occurrences are recommended as not eligible for listing on the NRHP.