Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the SR 201 Extension

In July and August 2019, Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington), was contracted by American Consulting Professionals, Inc., to conduct a Phase I Cultural Resources Survey (CRS) of the approximately 4,800-foot project area located in Whitfield County, Georgia. This approximate one-mile corridor is for the proposed SR 201 extension for which the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Savannah District is seeking an Individual Permit through Section 404 of the Clean Water Act (33 CFR 320-330), in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966 (as amended through 2016), and 36 CFR 800 (Protection of Historic Properties). Brockington conducted this CRS to determine the effects of the proposed project on cultural resources in and adjacent to the project area. The current project includes archival research, archaeological survey, metal detecting, and architectural survey. Background research was conducted using Georgia's Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information Systems (GNAHRGIS) to locate and review previously identified cultural resources and cultural resource surveys within a one-kilometer research buffer. The archaeological investigation was conducted within the project tract (the archaeological area of potential effect [APE]) using shovel testing and pedestrian survey, excluding previously surveyed areas. The architectural survey included a viewshed analysis of all potentially historic buildings or structures within the project tract and a 0.25-mile area surrounding the proposed development (the architectural APE). Following shovel test survey, the corridor within the archaeological APE was examined with a metal detection survey. While there are no specific Civil War skirmishes reported for the specific project area, there were 13 skirmishes in the area. Due to the historic presence of a large number of soldiers in the immediate vicinity, we believed the project area likely contained artifacts related to their temporary presence. For this reason, Brockington conducted a metal detection survey at all historic sites identified during this investigation. Metal detection survey was conducted along transects spaced 10 meters apart across each historic site. A total of nine historic resources were identified within the architectural APE. Six of these resources were previously identified and we identified three new resources. All nine historic resources are recommended ineligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). We identified two archaeological sites, 9WD183 and 9WD184, during our survey. We recommend that Sites 9WD183 and 9WD184, both Civil War historic artifact scatters, are ineligible for the NRHP. The overall disturbed nature of the sites, low density of artifacts, and lack of cultural features (earthworks, fortifications) suggests that both sites have limited potential to further contribute to our understanding of the history of Whitfield County. Therefore, no further management of these sites is warranted.