Archaeological Assessment of Project BRMLB-9315(4), Fulton County

In compliance with Section I 06 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto, project BRMLB-9315(4) in Fulton County has been surveyed with respect to archaeological resources, especially those on or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The purpose of the survey was to locate, identify and evaluate the significance of any archaeological resources within the proposed project's area of potential environmental effect.

Proposed project BRMLB-93 15(4) in Fulton County would consist of the reconstruction of International Boulevard from a point just east of Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks eastward to its intersection with Marietta Street. The project would include the viaduct level, the system of ramps to ground level beneath the viaduct, and the system of ground level streets and drives including the intermediate level ramps providing access to the Philips Arena and proposed parking deck. This project proposes to replace the existing viaduct structures, provide four lanes divided and two-lane ramps from International Boulevard down to Marietta Street and up to the Plaza level. The total length of the project at viaduct level would be approximately 300 meters and the total length of the bridge structure would be approximately 250 meters. An archaeological survey (Level II) consistent with the project description was conducted along the entire length of the project corridor on April I 29 and May 7, 1999. However, the archaeological survey was limited in scope due to the complete urbanization of the project area. Anticipating that potentially eligible archaeological resources might be discovered during the construction of the proposed project, GDOT added a Special Provision to the construction contract in accordance with 36 CFR 800.11 (a) Planning for Discovery. The Special Provision stated: "In accordance with 36 CFR 800.11 (a) Planning for Discovery, the Georgia Department of Transportation will ensure that an archaeologist who meets the Secretary of the Interior's Guidelines for Professional Qualifications Standards monitor all land disturbing activities including but not limited to excavation and drilling within the proposed project's area of potential effect. The monitoring will include the recovery, recording and reporting of all subsurface archaeological features or archaeological artifact concentrations located. If any such features or concentrations are located during monitoring, land disturbing activity will be halted in the immediate vicinity of the resource to provide no more than five days’ time for the Department archaeologist, in consultation with the State Historic Preservation Officer, to evaluate their significance by applying the National Register criteria, and allowing their proper excavation and recovery. The work stoppage will not exceed the minimum time necessary for completion of this work for each occurrence of significant archaeological resources (see Standard Specifications of Roads and Bridges, 1993 section I 07.13(A), paragraphs 4 and 5)."

No existing or eligible National Register resources were located within the project's area of potential environmental effect. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will have no effect upon archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.