Paddle Georgia Trip Makes Stop in Oconee

Paddlers participating in Paddle Georgia's 2011 trip were afforded the opportunity to catch a brief history lesson in Oconee County last Sunday.

Small groups of nearly 50 paddlers docked their kayaks and canoes and hiked to an area where Shoal Creek meets the eastern side of the Oconee River in order to hear information about a planned archaeological dig that may uncover what is believed to be a historic fort site.

The fort may have been one of a string of forts that were located along  the southern border of the United States and Native American territory in the late 1700s, according to Nancy Stangle, executive director of Athens Land Trust. Each was likely designed to hold about 10 families when danger arose, she said.

A $6,250 grant awarded by the Watson Brown Foundation Athens Chapter's Junior Board of Trustees to the Athens Land Trust and a matching anonymous donation are funding the dig that will study between a half and one acre, Stangle said.

Local archaeologist Lisa O'Steen is hoping to unearth foundations of the fort, Stangle said. O'Steen, though hopeful, is not expecting to find many artifacts from the European settlers since they were forced to live frugal lives, Stangle explained. 

Celestea Sharp, the property's owner,  is the author of "Bishop, Georgia: The Ancient Roots, Rich History and Enduring Spirit of a Southern Crossroads Community." Her research leads her to believe that the land was formerly home to Fort Matthews.

"Knowing how rich the history is, there is the potential for finding a lot of interesting things," she said.

Sharp is documenting the progress of the dig through film and she recorded scenes of the tours on Sunday. It was wonderful to see so many people interested in the study, she said.

Stangle agreed that it was a valuable experience.

"People were excited to hear about what we think happened there," she said. "They were fascinated and stayed and asked a lot of questions."

High school students and a child as young as six were among the visitors.

"Almost everyone had something to take with them in terms of the experience," she said.

Russ Page, who authored the grant proposal, helped lead tours of the site from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. He said a number of guests were from North Carolina, Florida, California and other parts of the country.

"I think it was a great trip for those that decided to make it," he said.  "All comments were positive and many said they'd like to come back after the study has been done."

Athens Land Trust is hoping to create a blog in the near future to provide updates as the study progresses in the fall and winter when thick vegetation clears.

The week-long, sold-out Paddle Georgia 2011 trip wraps up in Dublin Friday, June 24.

For more background on the grant and dig, see an article recently published in the Athens Banner-Herald.