Phase I Archaeological Survey and Assessment of the Russell & Peter’s Brewery Cave, 9BI236 in Bibb County, Georgia

In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, under 36CFR800.13(b)-Post-Review Discoveries, archeologists with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) conducted an addendum Phase I archaeological survey to document and evaluate a previously unrecorded cultural resource brought to the attention of GDOT during construction along Interstate (I-) 75 associated with the I-16/I-75 Interchange Reconstruction project, GDOT P.I. Nos. 311000, 311005, 311400, and 311410; HP# 991130-001 (Figure 1). The resource, a hand dug storage cave associated with the Russell & Peters Brewery, has been recorded as archaeological site 9BI236.

The project plans to improve I-75 from Hardeman Avenue to I-16 by shifting the I-75 northbound exit to I-16 3,500 feet south. The I-16 merge with I-75 southbound will be shifted 1,500 feet south and enter I-75 on the right. A two-lane Collector-Distributor (C-D) road would be constructed parallel to I-75 southbound. The Riverside Drive, Walnut Street, and David Lucas Pedestrian Bridge overpasses would all be reconstructed. On I-75 from Pierce Avenue to I-16, the existing four lane I-75 will be widened to six through-lanes with 12-foot paved shoulder and a concrete median barrier, and a fourth auxiliary lane. On I-16 from I-75 to Coliseum Drive, the existing four lanes will be widened to six through-lanes with 12-foot paved shoulder and a concrete median barrier. C-D roads will be constructed parallel to the Interstate. At the I-16/I-75 Interchange each of the existing exit ramps would be re-constructed will all ingress and egress on I-75 on the right. Three additional ramps will be constructed to connect I-75 with I-16 C-D roads. On coliseum Drive from Riverside Drive to the Macon Centerplex, the existing four-lane roadway would be widened to six lanes with a raised landscaped median. The Otis Redding Bridge over the Ocmulgee River would be widened to accommodate the additional lanes and reconstructed a pedestrian friendly gateway to Macon. On Second Street from Walnut Avenue to Emery Highway, the existing four-lane road will be widened to six lanes. A 10-foot sidewalk will be added to the east side of the bridge. The bridge over Norfolk Southern Railroad, Ocmulgee River, and I-16 would be reconstructed to accommodate the new Interstate section. In addition, a box culvert is planned to carry 800 feet of the Vineville Branch which runs parallel to the Interstate from the Ocmulgee River within the project area. This project is currently under construction.

The original survey for this project was conducted by Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington) in August 2000 (Gardner 2000). The survey identified that two eligible historic districts, the Ocmulgee National Monument (ONM) and Ocmulgee Old Fields Traditional Cultural Property (OOF), were located within the APE. In addition, portions of the Riverside and Linwood Cemeteries were within the APE. No archaeological sites were identified during this survey. One addendum was conducted in 2006 associated with this project. Additional coverage was needed along the east side of I-75 along a linear drainage runoff (Whitley 2006). In addition, three addendums were conducted as part of the Section 106 mitigation related to the adverse impact to the Pleasant Hill Historic District. In May of 2014, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of vacant lots proposed for house relocations within the Pleasant Hill Historic District (Trudeau 2014). In September 2014, URS Corporation (URS) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed Pleasant Hill Historic District Streetscape Corridor and Jefferson Long Park (Pappas 2014). In June 2015, EPEI conducted additional Phase I archaeological survey of additional vacant lots in the Pleasant Hill Historic District and conducted Phase II testing of 11 archaeological sites recommended potentially eligible during the 2014 vacant lot survey (Trudeau 2015). Concurrence letters for the projects are located in Appendix C.