Phase I Archaeological Resource Survey of the Proposed Expansion of CR 422/Jeff Davis Road at Ten Mile Creek Upson County, Georgia

On October 12 and 13, 2020, HNTB completed a Phase I archaeological resources survey for a proposed bridge replacement of County Road (CR) 422/Jeff Davis Road over Ten Mile Creek, in Upson County, Georgia. This survey was conducted for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), PI No. 0015615, to assist GDOT in complying with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The proposed project will replace the existing 180-foot (ft) length bridge built in 1964 over Ten Mile Creek.

The proposed 170-ft length bridge will be designed for two 12-ft lanes and 8-ft shoulders. The bridge approaches will consist of one 12-ft lane in each direction and 8-ft rural shoulders, 4 ft being paved. The bridge will be replaced in-place with the use of an off-site detour. Existing right-of-way (ROW) varies from 60 ft along Hannah’s Mill Road to 80 ft along CR 422/Jeff Davis Road. Based on the plans available at the time of survey, proposed Required ROW for the project ranges from 10 ft to 40 ft. errata For this project, the archaeological survey area included all areas within an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB). The ESB is anticipated to encompass all possible/foreseeable ground disturbance activities and was generated by the project Designer in November 2019. In accordance with Section 106 of the NHPA, the Area of Potential Effects (APE) is the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause alterations in the character or use of historic properties, if any such properties exist (36 CFR 800.16[d]). When design is complete, the project APE will likely be smaller than the ESB that is shown and evaluated herein. The ESB begins approximately 450 ft east of the Baker Britt Road/Jeff Davis Road intersection and extends eastward approximately 2,230 ft terminating at the Thompson Road/Jeff Davis Road intersection. The ESB is approximately 400 ft wide from north to south. Three newly identified archaeological sites, 9UP117, 9UP118, and 9UP119 were recorded during the course of fieldwork. Site 9UP117 is a twentieth century historic artifact scatter, while 9UP118 is a twentieth century historic scatter and Woodland/Mississippian lithic and ceramic scatter. Site 9UP119, a nineteenth century dam, is a contributing element of the NRHP-listed Rose Hill Mill and House, eligible under Criteria A and B, and is also eligible as an individual archaeological resource under Criterion D. Site 9UP118 is also within the boundaries of Rose Hill Mill and House NRHP-listed property, but there was no evidence identified during fieldwork or background research that suggests association with the Mill complex. Sites 9UP117 and 9UP118 could not be fully delineated due to the constraints of the ESB; however, the portions of the two sites identified within the ESB lack significant data potential.