HANDBOOKTOTHE
SITEINVENTORYRECORD
(68‐1Rev.15)
June30,2015
SouthCarolinaInstituteofArchaeologyand
AnthropologyUniversityofSouthCarolina
Columbia,SC29208
Introduction
Welcometothe2015revisionoftheSiteInventoryForm!Thoughthe1985
revisionhasserveduswellfor30yearsnow,theArchSiteSteeringCommittee
(http://www.scarchsite.org/about.aspx)feltsomekeychangeswereinorder.
Onlyonesubstantivechangehasbeenmade,anditinvolvestheterminology
usedfortheNationalRegisterofHistoricPlacerecommendation(A.10.).Wehave
replaced“PotentiallyEligible”with“Eligible”and“ProbablyNotEligible”with“Not
Eligible.”Thischangealignsthesiteformwithexistingguidelinesformaking
eligibilitydeterminations.Anothersetofchangesrelatestomakingtheformreadable
byacomputerthroughopticalcharacterrecognition(OCR).So,forexample,check
boxeshavebeenreplacedwithopentextfields.Pleaserefertotheguidelinesbelow
foranappropriatelistoftermsforagivenfield.Wealsohavepreparedtheformtobe
fillableinAdobepdf.
Asalways,pleaseconsiderthefollowingwhensubmittinginformationtothe
SiteFilesoffice:
(A)
SiteInventoryFormsmustbetypedorcompletedusingthefillable
PDFprovidedonline.
(B)
Photographs,diagrams,detailedmapsand/ordrawings
submittedwith acompletedSiteInventoryFormshouldbe
labeledproperlywith permanentsitenumber,date,and
observer.
(C)
SiteInventoryFormsshouldbecompletedandsubmittedas
quicklyas possible.Formsshouldnotbewithheldpending
resultsofextensive testing,partialand/orfullscaleexcavation.
Rememberthatasite inventoryformistheinitialdocumentation
ofthesite'slocationand generaldescription,notafinalreport.
(D)
TheSouthCarolinaInstituteofArchaeologyandAnthropologywill
no longerassignblocksofsitenumbersinanticipationofsite
discovery duringafieldproject. Sitenumberswillbeassigned
onlyifandwhen actualsiteshavebeenidentified.
2 FormCompletionNotes
State: SouthCarolina,abbreviatedSC
County:self‐explanatory
SiteNumber: permanent,SCIAAassignedsitenumber
RecordedBy: self‐explanatory
Affiliation: nameofagencyand/ororganizationinvestigatorisemployedbyor
affiliatedwith.
Date: self‐explanatory
A.
GENERALINFORMATION
1. SiteName: self‐explanatory
Project: name/titleofsurveyand/orprojectthroughwhichsitewaslocated.
2.
3.
4.
USGSQuad:nameofquadmap
Date: datemapwaspublishedorupdated/revised
Scale: 7.5or15minute
UTMZone:17(inSouthCarolina)
Easting:preferablytheGPSEasting
Northing:preferablytheGPSNorthing
ReferenceDatum/Year:forexample,NAD27orWGS84
Othermapreferences:listanyotherspecialprojectmaps,historical
maps, o r countyroadmapsusedaslocationalreferences.
5. Descriptivesitetype: ageneralstatementofthenatureofthesite.
Typicalcategorieswouldinclude:
Prehistoric
Historic
lithicscatter
ceramicscatter
quarrysite
shellring
mound
rockshelter
fishweir
isolatedfind
other(specify)
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Includeknown
tribalaffiliation
(Catawba,Cherokee,etc.)
historicscatter
homesite
plantation
tradingpost
industrial/manufacturing
milldam
cemetery
road
bridge
fort/palisade
earthworks/embankment
isolatedstructureremnant
other(specify)
‐‐‐‐‐‐‐‐
Includeknownaffiliation
(Spanish,German,Dutch,etc)
3 6. Archaeologicalinvestigation:Typeyes,orleaveblank,asappropriate,
forthehighestlevelof archaeologicalinvestigationundertakenat
thetimeofformcompletion:survey,testing,orexcavation.
7. Propertyowner:self‐explanatory
Phonenumber:self‐explanatory
8. Address:self‐explanatory
9. Othersitedescriptions:assignedprovisionalnumbers,temporary
field numbers,and/orothernamesassociatedwiththesite.
10. NationalRegisterofHistoricPlacesstatus(eligible,noteligible,
additionalwork):Typeyes,orleaveblank,asappropriate.
11. Levelofsignificance(national,state,orlocal):Typeyes,orleave
blank,asappropriate.
12. Justification:usedinconjunctionwithNRHPstatusandlevelof
significance. Thisshouldincludeabriefstatementofthesite's
statusrelativetoNRHPeligiblity.
4 B.
ENVIRONMENTANDLOCATION
1. GeneralPhysiographicProvince:informationconcerningthe
generallocationofthesiteisrequestedinthissection. Theseare
mostreadily interpretedusingthestandardgeologicaldivisions
withinSouth Carolina(seeFig.2).
a. LowerCoastalPlain:TheLowerCoastalPlainexpressesa
surface thatisdominantlyoneofprimarytopography. Effectsof
fluvialand eolianerosionsubsequenttooriginalemplacementare
mostapparent landward,wherelargerlandformssuchasbarrier
islandchainsand marshsurfacescanbenoted,andleastapparent
seaward,where individualstormbeachridgesarepresent. Six
terraceshavebeen recognizedontheLowerCoastalPlain:the
Wicomico(100ft.),the Penholoway(70ft.),theTalbot(40ft.),
thePamlico(25ft.),thePrincessAnne(17ft.),andtheSilverBluff
(8ft.)(Colquhoun1969:4)
Figure2. ProvincialmapofSouthCarolina(adaptedfromSouthCarolinaWater
ResourcesCommission)
5 b. MiddleCoastalPlain:TheMiddleCoastalPlainsurfaceisonein
whichfluvialandeolianerosionhasproceededtothepointthat
primary topographyisconfusing. Relicitsurfaceswhichregionally
depictalluvialfanordeltaic‐shapedlandformscanbevisualizedin
examining thetopography;butminorlandformscannotbeseen
withcertainty. At leastfourterraceslyinginbeltsroughly
parallelingtheAtlanticocean canbenoted: theHazelhurst(250
ft.),theCoharie(215ft.),theSunderland(170ft.),andthe
Okefenokee(140ft.)(Colquhoun1969: 3‐4).
c. UpperCoastalPlain:TheUpperCoastalPlainliesbetween
approximately550feetmaximumwhereitoverliesthePiedmont
atthe FallLineandapproximately250feetminimumelevation
seawardatthe OrangeburgScarpwhereitliesincontactwiththe
MiddleCoastal Plain. MiddleandLowerCoastalPlainterraces
intrudeintotheUpper CoastalPlainalongmajorrivervalleys.
d. Piedmont:ThePiedmontisasub‐maturelydissectedplateau
lying betweentheBlueRidgeMountainstothewestandthe
UpperCoastal Plaintotheeast. Elevationsrangefrom200feetin
rivervalleysnear theUpperCoastalPlainto700‐1500feetnear
theBlueRidge. Althoughlowerandupperdesignationscanbe
madeonthebasisof elevation,itisbesttoconsiderthePiedmont
asasingleunitconsisting ofbroadinterfluvesandlargeriver
valleysdrainingtheBlueRidge Mountains(Trimble1974).
e. BlueRidgeMountains:TheBlueRidgeProvinceinSouth
Carolina liesonthewesternextremeofthePiedmontandranges
inelevation from1500toover3000feet. Theprovinceis
characterizedbysteep mountainousterraindissectedbydeeply
entrenchedvalleys. Reliefin thisprovinceisextreme.
2. LandformLocation:Landformlocationreferstothephysiographyof
the immediatevicinityofthesite. Forthepurposesofthecurrent
inventoryformrevision,theclassificationofsitelocationsis
dividedin ataxonomicschemebasedonGeneralPhysiographic
Provinces.Withineachprovincelandformsarepresentedwhich
mostcommonly occur. Ifaspecificsitesettingdoesnotconformto
acertainclass,then indicateusingaverbaldescriptionofthe
natureofthesetting.
6 LowerCoastalPlain
a. BarrierIsland
1. Duneridges
2. Isolateddunes
3. Interior
4. Pondedge
5. Interiormarsh
edge
Figure3.LowerCoastalPlain
b. SaltMarsh
1. Marshplain
2. Marshislands
Figure 4. Salt Marsh
c. Interior‐Riverine
1. Island
2. Floodplain/Bottomlan
d/Riverswamp
3. Riverterrace
Figure5.Interior‐Riverine
7
d. Interior‐Inter‐Riverine
1. Plains
2. Ridges
3. Hills
4. Backswamps
Figure6.Interior‐Inter‐Riverine
MiddleandUpperCoastalPlain
a. Riverine
1. Island
2. Riverlevee
3. Floodplain/Bottomlan
d/Riverswamp
4. Meanderscars(in
modern
floodplains)
5. Riverterraces
6. Backswamp
7. Carolinabayedges
Figure 7. Riverine
8
b. Inter‐Riverine
1. Ridgetop
2. Ridge
side
slope
3. Ridgenose
4. Ridgesaddle
5. Carolina
bayedge
Figure8.Inter‐Riverine
Piedmon
t
1. Floodplain/Bottomlan
d/Riverswamp
2. Ridgetop
3. Ridgesideslope
4. Hollow
5. Saddle
6. Ridgenose
7. Island
Figure9.Piedmont
9
BlueRidgeMountains
1. Mountain
top
(isolated)
2. Mountainslope
3. Mountainridgetop
4. Mountainridgeslope
5. Mountainridgenose
6. Stream
floodplainand
cove
7. Mountainridgesaddle
Figure10. BlueRidge
Mountains Siteelevation(aboveMeanSeaLevel): self‐explanatory.
3. On‐sitesoiltype: descriptionofsoilbasedonin‐fieldobservation.
The followingstandardsoildescriptionsarerecommended:
clay
clay/loam
silty/clay
sandy/clay/loam
sandy/loam
sand
silt
silty/loam
sandy/clay
silty/clay/loam
Soilclassification:basedonU.S.D.A.SoilConservationServiceSoilSurvey
Studies
4. MajorRiverSystem(PeeDee,Santee,Ashley‐Combahee‐Edisto,
Savannah): basedontheSouthCarolinaWaterResources
Commission majordrainagebasinclassification(S.C.Water
ResourcesCommission 1983:51‐53).
loam
loam/san
gravel
organic
other
10
Figure11. MajordrainagebasinsofSouthCarolina(adaptedfromS.
C.Water ResourcesCommission).
11
Nearestriver/stream: recordnearestnamedbodyofwater(stream,
river, lake,pond,etc.). Ifthesiteislocatedonanunnamedstream,
givethenameofthenearestnamedbodyofwaterintowhichitflows.
5. Currentvegetation: Typeyes,orleaveblank,asappropriate.
6. Descriptionofgroundcover: self‐explanatory
C.
SITE CHARACTERISTICS
1. Estimatedsitedimensions: self‐explanatory
2. Sitedepth: self‐explanatory
3. Culturalfeatures(typeandnumber): shouldincludesuchfeatures
as abovegroundstructures,structuralremains,hearths,pits,
postmolds,burials,wells,priviesandsoforth.
4. Presenceof(middenfloralremains,faunalremains,shell,
charcoal): Typeyes,orleaveblank,asappropriate.
5. Humanskeletalremains: self‐explanatory
6. Generalsitedescription: verbaldescriptionofsitetoinclude
commentson intrasitepatterningofartifactsandfeatures,specific
on‐sitelandform descriptions,environmental/ecological
observations,andanyotherinformationpertinenttosite
characterization.
7. Verbaldescriptionoflocation:localarea‐specificdirectionsfor
locatingsite. This shouldbeusedinconjunctionwiththesketch
map.
ATTACH SITE MAP TO END OF FORM
D. ARCHAEOLOGICAL COMPONENTS
Typeyesorleaveblank.
E. DATA RECOVERED
Totalnumberofartifacts: self‐explanatory.
ATTACH ARTIFACT INVENTORY TO END OF FORM
12
F.
DATA RECOVERY METHODS
1. Groundsurfacevisibility: Typeyesorleaveblank,asappropriate.
2. Numberofpersonhoursspentcollecting: calculatedbymultiplying
numberofpersonscollectingbytotalnumberofhoursspent
collecting.
3. Descriptionofsurfacecollectionmethods:
Typeyesorleaveblank,asappropriate.
Type
grid‐‐collectingfromwithingridcoordinate
network grab‐‐expedient,non‐systematic
controlledsampling‐‐leash,"skirmishline,"etc.
other(specify)‐‐anyothermethodofsurfacecollection
Extent‐‐self‐explanatory
4. Descriptionoftestingmethods:
Method
Systematic‐‐Unitplacedbygrid,measureddistance,etc.
Non‐systematic‐‐Randomplacementoftestunits
Type
Shovel,auger,posthole,etc.Givenumberofunitspereachsize(i.e.
number16,size40cmsq). Maximumdepthreferstomaximumdepthof
deepesttestunitpereach sizecategory.
5. Descriptionofexcavationunits:
Number,size,maximumdepthsameasabove
Comments‐‐Includeoverallconfigurationofexcavationunits,orientation,
andsoforth.
G.
MANAGEMENT INFORMATION
1. Presentlanduse:(Typeyes,orleaveblank,asappropriate)
Agricultural‐‐toincludeallrowcrops,non‐rowcrops(grain),
pasture,orchards,etc.
Forest‐‐self‐explanatoryFallow‐‐abandoned/oldfield
Residential,lowdensity‐‐ruralsettlement,"sparse"suburbansettlement
Residential,highdensity‐‐highlypopulated,suburban,"centralcity"
Commercial‐‐toincludeshoppingcenters/malls,merchandising
establishments, storage,warehousing,etc.
15
Industrial‐‐self‐explanatory
Other(specify)‐‐toincluderecreational(suchasparks,golfcourses,
playgrounds),transportationsupportfacilities(airports,train
stations), government‐ownedreservations,mine/resource
extractionsites,andsoforth.
2. Presentcondition/integrityofsite:
Type
Intact‐‐showsminimaldisturbance
Damaged‐‐self‐explanatory
Extentofdamage‐‐Light,Moderate,Heavy
Natureofdamage—(typeyesorleaveblank)self‐
explanatory
3. Potentialimpactsandthreatstosite:
Potentialthreat‐‐self‐explanatory
Natureofthreat—(typeyesorleaveblank)
self‐explanatorywithexceptionof construction/development. If
threatisbyconstruction/development indicatesite'slocationwith
respecttopotentialdisturbance,i.e.
ImpactZone
directimpactzone‐sitewillbeimpactedby
construction/development
indirectimpactzone‐susceptibletosecondary
impactor impactrelatedtoconstructionactivities
outsideimpactzone‐withingeneralprojectareabut
not likelytosuffermajorimpacts
indeterminate‐self‐explanatory
4. Recommendationsforfurtherwork(survey,testing,
excavations, archival): Typeyesorleaveblank.
5. References:
Historic/archivaldocumentation—Typeyes,orleave
blank.Describe.
Archaeologicaldocumentation‐—Typeyes,orleave
blank.Describe.
6. Additionalmanagementinformation/comments: othercomments
onsite status,ownership,impactstatus,etc.
15
7. Locationofexistingcollections: self‐explanatory
8. Locationofphotographs:self‐explanatory
9. Locationofspecialsamples:self‐explanatory
Typespecialsamples: shouldincludecarbon14,geological,pollen,floral,
faunal,sedimentological,andsoforth.
Signatureofobserver/Date: self‐explanatory 15
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Colquhoun,Donald
1969 GeomorphologyoftheLowerCoastalPlainofSouthCarolina.
South CarolinaStateDevelopmentBoard,DivisionofGeology15.
SouthCarolinaWaterResourcesCommission
1983 SouthCarolinaStateWaterAssessment. SCWRCReportNo.
140,Columbia,SouthCarolina.
SouthCarolinaInstituteofArchaeologyandAnthropology
1980 HandbooktotheSiteInventoryRecord. Notebook12(1&2).
Trimble,StanleyWayne
1974 Man‐inducedsoilerosiononthesouthernPiedmont1700‐1790.
SoilConservationSocietyofAmerica,Ankeny,Iowa.
16