Intensive Archaeological Survey for Cultural Resources in the I-75 to State Route 371 Connector, Section I-575-1(26)

On October 11-18, 1992, archaeologists from the Transportation Center at The University of Tennessee-Knoxville conducted an intensive archaeological survey for cultural resources in the proposed I-75 to State Route 371 Connector, Section I-575-1 (26), Cherokee County, Georgia. The project area consists of an interchange between the connector and I-575 and will impact approximately 145 ha. The survey consisted of walking eroded areas, dirt roads, and steep slopes at no greater than 10 m intervals; the placement of shovel tests in level to gently sloping forest areas at no more than 30 m intervals; excavation of auger tests in the floodplain of Hickory Log Creek; and the identification of disturbed areas by visual inspection and testing with a tube sampler probe. The only cultivated fields encountered were shovel tested because these areas were too overgrown for pedestrian survey. A shovel test was expanded into a 1 m x 1 m unit. The dirt roads and eroded areas accounted for less than 1 % of the survey area. Approximately 70% of the project area was on steep ridge slopes over 30°. These areas were walked to check for the presence of habitable rock overhangs and cultural material on the ground surface. Shovel testing was conducted in 18% of the proposed project corridor. These areas are in forests and overgrown cultivated fields. Urban activity has disturbed 3% of the project area and 9% of the survey area is in the I-575 right-of-way. The urban disturbed area was located primarily in the Keithsburg community. A total of 208 shovel tests was excavated and 16 were positive for either prehistoric or historic cultural remains. Historic and prehistoric material was also recovered from surface collections. Seven auger tests were excavated and one was positive. From the shovel tests and surface collections and based on the topographic features, seven new archaeological sites were defined. Of these sites six are prehistoric and one is historic. Three isolated artifacts were also recovered and were given isolate numbers. Archaeological testing is recommended for 9CK727. No additional work is necessary on 9CK728, 730, 770, 771, 772, and 773.