Richmond Hill Builder Hit With $1.1M Over Native Burial Damage

A sprawling coastal development outside Savannah has turned into a very expensive history lesson. A Savannah-area company, Savannah Land Holdings, has agreed to pay $1.1 million to the federal government after allegations that construction at The Waterways in Richmond Hill damaged, mishandled and, in some cases, discarded Native American artifacts and human remains. The settlement resolves a federal lawsuit accusing the developer of failing to protect archaeological sites while building roads, homes and an artificial lagoon across the large property. Under the deal, the company must fund preservation work and return human remains to tribal authorities under a court-approved plan.

What the settlement requires

Under the agreement, Savannah Land Holdings will pay $1.1 million, put a qualified archaeologist in charge of cultural-resource preservation, and catalogue and curate artifacts removed from the site. The company must also repatriate funerary objects and human remains in coordination with tribes and state archaeologists. In addition, the developer agreed to permanently restrict development in certain parts of the property and to extend the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers permit for The Waterways through Dec. 31, 2032, according to The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Allegations in the federal complaint

The federal complaint says the company disturbed at least 18 recorded archaeological sites and kept excavating in areas where burials were found, which allegedly caused construction-related damage to artifacts. Inspectors say an April 2024 Corps site visit documented what it called “extensive violations,” including a burial urn that was cleaned and reconstructed in a way that caused crematory remains to be lost. The complaint and local reporting also state that more than 80,000 items were not properly curated and that about 3,000 artifacts were lost or disposed of, according to WTOC.

Court timeline

The United States filed suit in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Georgia in January 2025, under Civil Action No. 4:25-CV-003. Early case-management orders were entered that same month, and court records show the case was assigned to Chief Judge R. Stan Baker. The lawsuit then moved through initial discovery steps after the complaint was filed. The filing history is detailed on the court docket available at Justia Dockets & Filings.

Developer response and tribal role

Savannah Land Holdings has denied the government’s allegations but said it reached what it called “a cooperative resolution” that it argues balances protection of historical resources with the economic benefits of The Waterways project, according to the company’s lawyer. The settlement requires coordination with the Muscogee (Creek) Nation on artifact preservation and repatriation, and it also binds any future commercial owner of the property to the agreement. The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reported the company’s statement and the tribal coordination requirements.

Why it matters

Beyond the immediate penalty, the case underscores how conditions attached to Corps 404 permits and cultural-resource protections can trigger federal enforcement when developers do not follow protocols intended to safeguard archaeological sites. The Waterways project spans roughly 2,230 acres of coastal wetlands and, under its permit, was required to consult with the State Historic Preservation Office and tribes. The federal government’s insistence on curation, repatriation and long-term preservation steps in the settlement signals increased scrutiny of development on culturally sensitive lands, as described in regional coverage and reporting on the lawsuit and negotiations by Homes.com News.

The parties have told the court they reached settlement terms and asked a judge to approve the agreement. If the court signs off, the deal will require the developer to fund repatriation efforts, bring in outside preservation oversight and keep key areas of the property off-limits to future building. Law360 has summarized how the settlement links a civil penalty with ongoing curatorial and repatriation obligations.