Archaeologists examining riverbed discoveries after Eagle & Phenix Dam breach

Archaeologists explored the bed of the Chattahoochee River Friday afternoon, taking pictures and video of their discoveries to record the history of river and the mills it once powered. 

Archaeology work continues in the Chattahoochee River streambed just upstream of the Eagle & Phenix Mill dam Friday afternoon. An access road has also been constructed in the streambed to allow easier access for construction crews and vehicles building the whitewater course [Credit: Mike Haskey]

Industrial archaeologist Dean Wood said he and his colleagues from Southern Research of Waverly Hall uncovered several pyramid-like wood and rock structures just north of the wooden dams that may have been part of a ferrying system used to move materials out to build the dams, but they would have to remove the structures and do a tree ring analysis on the wood toe to determine the age. 

"It's all interesting," said Wood, adding that the structures and old wooden dams they've uncovered since the Eagle & Phenix Dam breach tell the story of the early mill owners and their attempts to harness the power of the river. 

"We see successes and we see failures," he added. "We see experimentation." 

A temporary rock and dirt access road has also been built from the 14th Street Bridge over the Eagle & Phenix Dam on the Georgia side of the river. 

The road will be used to bring in heavy equipment to sculpt rapids below what remains of the Eagle & Phenix Dam. The dam will be removed when that work's done, opening the channel on the Georgia side. 

Richard Bishop, president of Uptown Columbus Inc., said crews are also doing work north of the railroad bridge in the channel near TSYS. 

After the work on the access road is complete, crews will start work on the Georgia channel, Bishop said. 

The construction is part of the city's whitewater project, scheduled to be completed in late summer 2013. 

Author: Sara Pauff | Source: Ledger-Enquirer [April 21, 2012]