Archeological Assessment of the Iron Horse Farm, Greene and Oconee County, Georgia

The University of Georgia (UGA) acquired the 658-acre Iron Horse Farm (formerly known as the Curtis Farm) in 2011 with the intent to use it as an educational and experimental farm for the University's College of Agriculture. The tract is located mostly in Greene County, but extends slightly into Oconee County and straddles State Route 15 (Figure 1 ). The tract is mostly open farmland, but contains minor amounts of woodlands and a large, water-filled sand mining pit. UGA engaged Geo-Hydro Engineers, Inc. of Kennesaw, Georgia to prepare an Environmental Assessment report for the tract, in advance of proposed earth moving and construction that would be needed to create the experimental farm complex. The 2012 Environmental Assessment (0 'Brien and Berryman 20 12) contained an assessment of archeological resources, but this assessment was flawed. On page 8 the report states that the University of Georgia conducted a review of recorded archeological sites and identified 54 archeological sites within a 1 kilometer radius of the subject property. It is not clear if this includes the subject property, but one would assume that it does. The report further states that "The actual property was not identified as an archeological site." The review of the existing data base of documented archeological sites conducted by the Georgia Archaeological Site File (Appendix A) has many caveats concerning interpreting the results, and one that is presented in bold type is that it is prudent to seek the consultation of a professional archaeologist to assess the possible impacts of a project on cultural resources. It is not clear if a professional archeologist was consulted, but given that there are ten known sites on the Iron Horse Farm property, 54 sites within 1 kilometer of the property, a well-known set of Mississippian period Indian mounds (Scull Shoals mounds) across the river, the well-known, very early industrial town of Scull Shoals across the river, and the well-known home site and former grave site of early nineteenth century Georgia Governor Peter Early on the farm property, it appears that there was not adequate consultation with archeologists to properly assess the archeological potential of the tract. As an undertaking by a unit of the University System of Georgia, the proposed development of the project area should have adhered to the guidelines and intentions of the Georgia Environmental Policy Act of 1991 (GEP A), which was designed to protect cultural and natural resources that may be impacted by a state government agency's actions. To assist units of the University System of Georgia (US G) protect cultural resources on their lands and adhere to GEP A, the USG commissioned and adopted a set of guidelines, or a preservation plan template, which is presented in Appendix B. It is our understanding that the University of Georgia is working on such a plan for their lands, but that a formal plan is not yet in place. Nevertheless, the guidance provided in the Campus Historic Preservation Plan Guidelines have been available since 2005 and should be used to guide policies and actions to adhere to GEP A regulations.