Beech Flats & Sugar Cove - Rock Piles Clay Co., NC & Towns Co., GA |
All Text & Images: Copyright (2018-2020) |
Over the past few years, I have made several explorations in the general Beech Flats and Sugar Cove area near the GA-NC state line, looking for old home sites. Documented on some of our other pages, I have encountered many clusters of rock piles and walls in this area. While they were likely associated with early settler farming, some of the piles are a bit unusual and may have other origins. Limited archaeological studies in the vicinity have yielded dates as far back as 1000 years ago on remains found under some of these rock piles and walls. These images are just a few examples that weren't included in other albums... 1 - January 2020 |
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These could be considered more "rock stacks" than the typical rock piles. |
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The rocks in the foreground stack have been dislodged by the trees growing up through the pile. |
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A large American Holly (Ilex opaca) |
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One of the few bent trees I've seen that is actually old enough to be a Native American directional tree... |
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An old rock wall running through the area... |
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More stacked piles... |
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Upper section of Giesky Creek |
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A couple more stacked rock piles... |
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2 - March 2020 While looking for more old home sites / chimneys... |
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This unusual pile had some mighty big rocks with a large capstone. |
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These were more typical of the rock piles found in this particular location |
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Elf Cups (Sarcoscypha sp.) |
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Plantainleaf Sedge (Carex plantaginea) |
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I climbed up the steep, wet slope to Stillhouse Falls Unfortunately the waterfall on the right is still covered by two fallen trees. |
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Rounding a ridge to approach the waterfall, I came across another cluster of rock piles. These were mostly the "typical" piles seen around field clearing. |
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