A Phase I Archaeological Survey of State Route 171 at Battle Ground Creek, Johnson County, Georgia, PI #0007179

Between June 6 and June 16, 2017, TerraXplorations, Inc. (TerraX) of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, conducted an archaeological survey of SR 171 at Battle Ground Creek in Johnson County, Georgia. The project would involve the replacement of the bridge on SR 171 at Battle Ground Creek. This project was conducted on the behalf of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) (PI #0007179) and the lead federal agency is the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). The Phase I survey was performed by Jeff Thompson and Tyler Reece under the supervision of Paul D. Jackson, co-Principal Investigator. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) measures 636.11 meters (m) (2087 feet [ft]) in length with its width varying between 70.40 m (231 ft) and 131.97 m (433 ft), for a total area of 16.1 acres (6.5 ha). GDOT requires a 100 ft (30.48 m) Expanded Survey Corridor (ESC) buffer around this APE. The ESC encompasses 28.2 acres (11.4 ha) and measures 697.07 m (2,287 ft) in length with its width varying between 131.36 m (431 ft) and 192.93 m (633ft). The overall survey area for this project included both the APE and ESC.

The Phase I investigation consisted of a pedestrian survey and 30-m interval shovel testing. This included the placement of 125 shovel tests along six transects. Of these, one recovered cultural materials, 88 were negative, and 36 were unable to be excavated due to Rayonair Pond, standing water within the Battle Ground Creek flood plain, or residential buildings. The Phase I survey identified two newly recorded archaeological sites (9JH25 and 9JH26) within the study area. Site 9JH25 is a late nineteenth/early twentieth to mi twentieth century historic artifact scatter associated with a razed historic house located on the northern boundary of the project ESC. Site 9JH26 represents the ruins of a mid-twentieth century gristmill and dam located in the western-central portion of the project area. The portions of 9JH25 and 9JH26 located within the project APE/ESC are considered to lack significant data potential. However, because neither of the sites’ boundaries could be conclusively established beyond the project area and the full extent of these sites were not surveyed, their NRHP eligibility is listed as unknown. In accordance with the GDOT Environmental Procedures Manual, TerraX recommends that the unknown portions of both of the sites identified in this survey be designated Environmentally Sensitive Areas and therefore avoided by any bridge construction activities. Based on the results of this investigation, the proposed bridge replacement project on SR 171 at Battle Ground Creek is expected to have no effect on any significant historic or precontact resources that are listed in or eligible for listing in the NRHP. Accordingly, TerraX recommends clearance for this project in regards to archaeological concerns.