On June 29, 2000 an archeological survey was conducted within the area of potential effect for a proposed reconstruction of the existing crossroads intersection of two-laned Rucker Road and two-laned Harris Road to the south and two-laned Spring Gate Road to the north, in northern Fulton County. The intersection will be widened to add a turning lanes on Rucker Road; all widening will occur on the south side of Rucker Road, along a 263 m length of the road. The existing 12-m wide road will be expanded to as much as 17 m, requiring the acquisition of 0.02 ha of new right--of-way. In addition, a 200 m length of Harris Road will be widened from 6 m to 14 m, requiring the acquisition of 0.006 ha of new right-of-way. The area of potential effect includes all areas of new right-of-way and proposed construction.
Archival research showed that no archeological or house sites occurred in the project area, although a farm complex did once exist on the south side of Rucker Road very close to the project area. The survey confirmed that virtually all of the proposed improvements are within the existing rights-of-way that have been disturbed by ditching and grading. Field inspection and shovel testing failed to recover any evidence of prehistoric or historic sites in the project area. As mentioned, a farm complex once existed south of Rucker Road and west of Harris Road, and this is evidenced today by several large oak trees. The house and main outbuildings have been razed and replaced with modern houses; one unpainted wooden barn/shed that stands today may be a remnant of the complex. This complex was just south of the project area, and we encountered no artifacts or features in or adjacent to the project area. Shovel testing revealed that most of the ungraded portion of the project area consists of a shallow plowzone.
No archeological sites exist within the proposed project's boundaries. Therefore, construction will not adversely impact any significant cultural resources and the project should be allowed to proceed.
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