PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR FY 16 DESIGN BUILD REPLACEMENT PROJECTS - BATCH 3, COWETA, CRAWFORD, HARRIS, MARION, MERIWETHER, AND PIKE COUNTIES, GEORGIA GDOT P.I. NO. 0014176, GP NO. 151221-001

On December 15, 2015, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI), conducted a Phase I archaeological survey for Fiscal Year (FY) 16 Design Build Replacement Projects-Batch 3 (P.I. No. 0014176, GP No. 151221-001), which includes six low-volume, off-system bridge replacement locations in Coweta, Crawford, Harris, Marion, Meriwether, and Pike counties. The Phase I was carried out in order to locate and evaluate archaeological resources within the area of potential effect (APE), and all proposed construction for this project is limited to the existing right-of-way (ROW). All work was completed for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) under contract with ARCADTS, U.S., Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia.

Prior to the commencement of fieldwork, a review of the GASF and GNAHRGIS database was completed. No previously recorded archaeological sites were identified within a 1-kilometer radius of the six bridge locations by this review. One previously unknown archaeological site, 9HS518, was recorded as a result of EPEI's Phase I survey. Site 9HS518 contains the remnants of a former bridge crossing Little Palmetto Creek in Harris County. It is immediately south of the extant bridge along a former historic alignment of Fortune Hole Road. One intact bridge abutment is present on the west side of the creek, while the remains of a destroyed abutment on the east side of the creek are displaced and redeposited. No other remnants of the former bridge are present, and shovel tests within the APE did not recover any cultural material. Site 9HS518 contains only the disturbed remains of a historic bridge. Site 9HS518 was evaluated for significance and integrity and determined to be ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and no further work is recommended.

            The fieldwork for the Phase I survey of the proposed FY 16 Design Build Replacement Projects Batch 3 project was conducted by EPEI on December 15, 2016. Batch 3 consists of six bridge replacements located in Coweta, Crawford, Harris, Marion, Meriwether, and Pike counties (Figure 4.1 ). All proposed work will occur within existing ROW. The APE for the bridge projects consists of the existing ROW for a distance of 300 feet beyond the edge of the current bridge decking in each direction.

The current field survey identified one new archaeological resource, 9HS518, a bridge remnant, within the APE at the 145-5031-0 bridge location in Harris County. The results of the investigation of 9HS518 is presented with the write up for bridge 145-5031-0 below. No archaeological resources were identified in the APE for any of the other five bridge locations.