Archeological Survey of Proposed Widening of U.S. Highway 25

In 1993 Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. conducted an intensive archeological survey of a 17.8 km portion of the proposed Savannah River Parkway in Bulloch and Jenkins Counties, Georgia. This 17.8 km section is known as Georgia DOT Project EDS-555(1). Ten sites were recorded in a survey report (Price 1993) that was reviewed by State and DOT officials. None of the sites were determined eligible for the National Register by the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer. In 1995 three additional, adjoining segments of the project, labeled as Georgia DOT Projects EDS-555(4), EDS-555(5) and bridge project BHN-015-1(57), totaling 18.8 km, were added to the original project to form one large project. In July 1995, Southeastern Archeological Services intensively surveyed these previously unsurveyed segments. This survey located eight sites, none of which are recommended as eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. These eight new sites consist of five prehistoric sites, two historic house sites and one site that contained both prehistoric and historic material. All eight sites are either disturbed or lacking in sufficient artifact density to suggest any significant further research potential. One of the added segments extends through the town of Millen, on US Highway 25. None of the numerous structures along this urban section of the project were treated as archeological sites. There are two tentative historic districts along the route in Millen. These were visited and assessed for archeological potential, but were not intensively surveyed. One individual, potentially historic structure on the outskirts of Millen was treated as an archeological site. The intensive survey of 36.6 km of highway widening in Bulloch and Jenkins Counties recorded 18 archeological sites, none of which are recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. No further work at these sites is recommended. However, one cultural resource, an old cemetery, does warrant some further consideration. An 1896 map of Millen, on display at the Museum in Millen, shows an "old graveyard" 200 m south of the railroad. There is sufficient detail in this map to determine that this "old graveyard" is plotted as being directly underneath the present course of U.S. Highway25. No evidence of this cemetery exists today and museum officials and residents were unaware of it. The cemetery is mentioned in an 1890 Burke County deed as being an "old" cemetery. It probably is an antebellum cemetery related to the Adam Brinson plantation. Limited probing in the sandy soils of the project area suggests that probing would be ineffective in locating and delineating the graves. The existence and location of the cemetery has not been verified in the field. The DOT should consider how to deal with this possible cemetery under the Georgia Abandoned Cemeteries Act. The existing highway in the vicinity of the cemetery is built up about 0.6 m above grade. It is not clear how much effect the proposed widening would have on the cemetery, if it is indeed within the proposed area of potential effect. Machine stripping in the project right-of-way could be the most effective means to determine if graves are present. This stripping may require a permit from the City of Millen under Georgia Code Section 36-72-5.