Cultural Resources Assessment of the Proposed Amerson- Riverside Connector Trail in Macon Bibb County, Georgia

Moreland Altobelli Associates, Inc (MAAI) conducted a cultural resources survey for the Amerson-

Riverside Trail Connector on March 6, 2017. The study was conducted for the city of Macon to locate and

identify cultural resources and to assess resource significance based on National Register of Historic Places

(NRHP) criteria [36CFR Part 60.4 (a-d)]. The survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the

National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended.

The survey included a literature review and intensive field survey. During the literature review, which took

place on March 2, 2017, state and county maps and documents were examined to determine if previously

recorded cultural resources were in or near the project area APE for direct effects or within the view shed

of the proposed project area. The archaeological field survey was conducted using surface and subsurface

techniques (i.e., visual inspection and shovel testing) to locate and identify archaeological resources

within the study area. The architectural resources survey was conducted by assessing the visibility of the

project area historic resources that are listed in or eligible for listing in the NRHP.

Literature Review: Review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) utilizing GNAHRGIS revealed that

there are two previously recorded archaeological sites located within 1-km (0.6-mi) of the project area.

Additionally, review of GNAHRGIS data revealed there are two National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)

listed resources located within the view shed of the proposed Amerson-Riverside connector trail.

Archaeological Resources Field Survey: There were no archaeological materials (i.e., culturally modified

artifacts, cultural deposits, features, or human remains) located within the survey area.

Architectural Resources Field Survey: There were two NRHP-listed (Riverside Cemetery and Shirley Hills

Historic District) resources identified within the visual effects APE. However, the Amerson-Riverside

connector trail is not visible from the resources due to vegetation.

Recommendations: Based on the absence of archaeological resources within the project area APE for

direct effects, no archaeological resources will be impacted by the proposed project. Additionally, there

will be no effect to any NRHP-listed or eligible resources located within the visual Areas of Potential Effect

(APE) for this project. Therefore, MAAI recommends that the current proposed project receive cultural

resource clearance; no further work is recommended.