Addendum: Phase I Archaeological Survey and Phase II Archaeological Testing of Segments of SR 133 from Albany to Moultrie, Volume I and II

New South Associates, Inc. (New South) has completed Phase I Archaeological Survey and Phase II Archaeological Evaluations of redesigned segments of SR 133 in Dougherty, Worth, and Colquitt counties, Georgia. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) plans to widen and improve a segment of SR 133 between Albany and Moultrie under PI Numbers 000473, 000475, 000519, and 000520. Prior archaeological surveys of the SR 133 corridor have been completed (Koch et al. 2006; Martin et al. 2014; Sipes and Lovett 2011), but design modifications since those surveys incorporated locations that were not previously covered. This report describes the additional archaeological surveys and evaluation studies in these locations.

The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for this project was defined through consultation between New South and the GDOT Project Archaeologist to cover the locations not included in earlier surveys. The APE was also designed to accommodate further design changes so that the requirement for an Expanded Survey Corridor (ESC) was waived. The combined length of these APE locations measured approximately 32 miles (51 km) in length and varied in width.

The survey sought to identify archaeological sites and evaluate their eligibility for inclusion on the Georgia Register of Historic Places in order to assist the GDOT in compliance with the Georgia Environmental Policy Act (GEPA), Georgia Code 12-16-2(3). The criteria for eligibility and procedures for listing resources on the Georgia Register of Historic Places are identical to those of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP); hence, NRHP eligibility will be referred to throughout this report. Survey techniques included shovel testing, metal detecting at historic sites, and surface collection where conditions allowed. As a result of the Phase I survey, 43 archaeological sites and 10 isolated finds were identified. Five previously identified sites were revisited (see Report Summary table below). In addition, three cemeteries (9CQ106, 9CQ107, and 9DU369) located outside the APE were documented at the request of GDOT, but not surveyed or evaluated in detail.

Based on the Phase I Survey, eight sites were recommended for Phase II evaluation. Of the balance of the newly recorded and revisited sites, five (9CQ102, 9WO56, 9WO78, 9WO84, and 9WO92) were fully delineated during the Phase I survey and are recommended not eligible for the NRHP. The other 35 sites could extend outside the APE and so were not fully evaluated for the NRHP. However, the portions of these sites within the APE are judged unlikely to contain significant archaeological data. New South recommends an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) for 34 of these sites to protect them from proposed project activities. While Site 9DU170 is considered to be unknown, an ESA is not recommended because the site is approximately 130 meters (426 ft.) north of the APE covered during the current survey. Based on current design plans, this site would not be impacted by the proposed undertaking. The 10 isolated finds are, by definition, not eligible for the NRHP and do not require further archaeological study.

Eight sites (9CQ105, 9DU360, 9WO41, 9WO77, 9WO89, 9WO94, 9WO95, 9WO97) were recommended for Phase II evaluation because they appeared to contain significant data on the precontact period, and could be eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. Phase II testing involved close-interval shovel testing and test unit excavation. Based on this work, 9WO94 was fully delineated within the APE and is recommended not eligible for the NRHP. The other seven sites extend outside the APE and were not completely evaluated. The portions of these seven sites within the APE are considered to lack significant data potential, but their overall NRHP eligibility remains unknown and an ESA is recommended for each of them.