Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Roundabout at State Route 115 and State Route 105, Habersham County, Georgia

In June 2019, Edwards-Pitman, Inc. (EP) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of a proposed Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) project at the intersection of State Route (SR) 105 and SR 115, in Habersham County. Under contract with ARCADIS US, Inc., the purpose of this survey is to identify archaeological resources within the survey area and evaluate them for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). EP's archaeological survey was completed in accordance with GDOT's Environmental Procedures Manual (EPM) (2013), the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (1966, as amended through 2016) and its implementing regulations (36 CFR Part 800), and follows the standards set forth by the Georgia Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Surveys (Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists [GCPA] 2014) and National Register Bulletin 24, Guidelines for Local Surveys: A Basis for Preservation Planning (Parker 1985).

The proposed project would consist of the construction of a roundabout at the intersection of SR 105 and SR 115. SR 105 is a two-lane roadway with 3.6-meter (m) (12-foot [ft]) travel lanes, graded shoulders, and open drainage ditches. SR 115 is also a two-lane roadway with 3.6 m (12-ft) travel lanes, graded shoulders, and open drainage ditches. Both roadways have a posted speed limit of 55 miles [mi] (88 kilometers [km]) per hour. The intersection of SR 105 and SR 115 is all-way stop controlled with overhead flashing beacons. All approaches are single lane. The eastbound and southbound approaches also have channelized right-turn lanes controlled by yield signs. A high number of crashes have occurred at this intersection, resulting in a number of injuries; therefore, a need has been identified to reduce the crash frequency at this intersection. The project is in a preliminary concept phase, and the proposed right-of-way (ROW) has not yet been identified. The survey area for this Phase I archaeological investigation is the Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB). The ESB measures approximately 15 hectares (ha) (37 acres [ac]) and was designed to encompass all areas of possible ground disturbance for the proposed project. The width of the ESB varies between 60 to 112 m (196 to 367 ft). The length of the ESB along SR 115 is 990 m (3,258 ft), and along SR 105 is 996 m (3 ,267 ft). When design is complete, the area of potential effect (APE) for the proposed project will likely be smaller than the ESB.

As a result of this investigation, EP identified one historic-period isolated find within the Colston Farm property boundary, one historic-period archaeological site, 9HM316, not on the Colston Farm property, and one modern cemetery. Isolated finds are not generally eligible for the NRHP, and IF 1 does not contribute to the eligibility of the Colston Farm Historic District. Site 9HM316, a twentieth century artifact scatter, was only partially investigated due to the limits of the ESB.