Phase I Archaeological Survey of the State Route (SR) 169 Bridge Replacement Over the Canoochee River, Evans County, Georgia

In August of 2017, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin (VHB), Inc. completed a Phase I archaeological survey in support of a bridge replacement along State Route (SR) 169 over the Canoochee River in Evans County, Georgia (PI No. 0013596). The current bridge structure was built in 1958 and consists of 11 spans of reinforced concrete deck girders on concrete caps with concrete piles. The existing bridge structure is currently posted for weight restrictions as it is below current design standards. The bridge is classified as having an unknown foundation and therefore could be at risk for scour from the Canoochee River. The existing right of way (ROW) is 115 feet. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) for this project is defined as the Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) which begins approximately 1000 feet (305 meters) west of the existing bridge structure along SR 169, and ends approximately 1000 feet east of the existing bridge structure. The environmental survey corridor (ESC) is not required because the ESB encompasses all potential construction areas. The total length of the ESB, including the existing bridge structure, is approximately 2500 feet (762 meters). The maximum width of the ESB along the project length is 300 total feet (90 meters), or 150 feet (45 meters) from either side of the center line. The required ROW varies between 30 feet and 140 feet. For the purposes of this report, the ESB is known as the project APE. The work for this survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800). Prior to the start of fieldwork, a review of the Georgia's Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) and the Georgia Archaeological Site Files (GASF) databases was completed. These sources revealed that no previously recorded archaeological sites were located either within the project APE or within a 1 kilometer (km) radius of the project APE. Furthermore, no previous portion of the project APE has been the subject of prior archaeological investigation. During the course of fieldwork, 188 shovel tests were excavated within the project APE, 186 of which were negative for cultural material. Two shovel tests were positive for precontact cultural material. Environmental conditions, including areas of inundation, prohibited subsurface testing at 10 locations throughout the project APE. In lieu of shovel testing, the surrounding environment was subjected to visual inspection. Soil conditions encountered typically consisted of gray (10YR 6/1) to light gray (10YR 7 /2) sand from 0 to 30 centimeters (cm), underlain by grayish brown (10YR 5/ 2) sandy clay loam from 30 cm to final depth. Average depths were about 45-55 cm. One archaeological site (9EV90) was recorded as a result of the survey. Site 9EV90 was identified through the excavation of two positive shovel tests with in the southeastern ESB of the southwestern project APE, roughly 60 meters north of the intersection of SR 169 and an unnamed cut road. The site measures approximately 50 meters in length by 16 meters in width and is oriented northwest to southeast. Site 9EV90 is a low-density precontact lithic and ceramic scatter consisting of seven artifacts found from 0 to 60 cms. Artifacts recovered from 9EV90 consist of five (n=S) sherds of Savannah Plain, one (n=1) Savannah fine cord marked (heavily weathered) sherd, and one (n=1) fragment of Coastal Plain chert debitage. No above ground or subsurface features were identified. Close interval shovel test delineations conducted at 15-meter intervals did not reveal any further subsurface artifacts or features. The site likely represents a very brief/ transitional habitation locus near the Canoochee River, possibly during the Savannah I Phase (1150 -1200 AD) of the Mississippian period (900 -1565 AD) when sand tempered ceramics with fine cord marked and undecorated surface treatments were in use (Braley1990). The lack of features, coupled with the overall dearth of artifacts recovered, indicate that the research potential of 9EV90 is limited. Since the site boundaries of 9EV90 were not able to be fully delineated within the project APE, the overall National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility determination is unknown. However, the portion of 9EV90 which exists within the project APE lacks significant data potential under Criterion D. No other archaeological sites, features, or resources were identified during this archaeological survey. Therefore, no further archaeological management in regard to PI No. 0013596, the SR 169 bridge replacement over the Canoochee River, is recommended unless plans change. An ESA is required for this project because the site has unknown boundaries to the southeast. An ESA letter will be submitted as a separate document.