Archaeological Resources Survey and Evaluation of the Proposed State Route 22/U.S. Highway 80 Widening and Reconstruction

Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted survey and evaluation of archaeological resources for the proposed widening and reconstruction of State Route 22/US Highway 80 during February 1993. Project goals included location and evaluation of all archaeological resources which might be impacted by proposed construction activities and recommendations for any necessary avoidance or mitigation options. Historical research consisted of examination of relevant archival resources. Field survey involved pedestrian coverage of the entire length of the project corridor, approximately 10.3 miles, including a 4400 foot section of State Route 96 in Geneva, Georgia. Screened shovel testing and visual inspection of exposed ground surface were the primary methods used to locate and evaluate archaeological resources. Investigations resulted in the identification and evaluation of ten archaeological sites and three isolated finds of cultural material. Three sites, 9ME237, 9TA39, and 9TA40, had been previously recorded and were reexamined during this survey. Seven additional sites (9TA76, 9TA77, 9TA78, 9TA79, 9TA80, 9TA81, and 9TA83) were located. Evaluation indicates that none of the sites within the project corridor are eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Extensive disturbance at many of these sites is a result of structure razing, materials salvage, grading, agriculture, and/or erosion. In addition, low artifact frequency at these sites offers little additional potential to address local or regional research. No additional cultural resource investigations are recommended at these sites or at the locations of the isolated finds.