Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Bridge Replacement on SR 8 At Beaverdam Creek, Hart County, Georgia

Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI), under a contract with American Engineers, Inc., conducted a Phase I archaeological survey for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) project to replace GDOT Bridge 147-0001-0 on State Route (SR) 8 over Beaverdam Creek approx­imately 3 miles east of Royston in Hart County (GDOT P.I. o. 001374 7). The survey sought to identify archaeological sites in compliance with Section I 06 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The fieldwork was conducted in March and April, 2018.

The survey area for the proposed project includes all areas within an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) provided to EPEI by project design engineers. The ESB measures approximately I, 110 meters in length, ranges between 126 and 212 meters in width, and is designed specifically to encompass all areas of possible/foreseeable ground disturbance as a result of the current project.

During this survey EPEI revisited a portion of previously identified site 9HA I; the boundary for this reported mound site measures approximately 4.6 kilometers in length running north to south along Beaverdam Creek, and approximately I kilometer at its widest extent. The portion of the site revisited measures 220 meters north to south, and 728 meters east to west. No artifacts or features were identified in association with 9HA I and the site continues to be considered of unknown eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion D. EPEI identified a new resource, 9HA 159, a twentieth century homesite. The site was not fully delineated due to survey limits, and the portion of 9HA 159 that was examined during the survey lacks significance and data potential. As 9HA 159 was not fully defined due to the survey limits it should be regarded as of unknown eligibility for the NRHP under Criterion D.