Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Cherokee Road Sidewalk Installation, Walton County, Georgia

Terracon Consultants, Inc., (Terracon), on behalf of Keck and Wood, Inc., and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), has completed a Phase I Archaeological Survey for a proposed sidewalk installation on Cherokee Road in Social Circle, Walton County, Georgia. The project was conducted under contract to Keck and Wood, Inc., in general accordance with Terracon Proposal No. PE2207107, dated May 26, 2020 for GDOT. Fieldwork for the project was conducted from August 10–12, 2020, by Archaeologists Barbara Gengenbach, M.A., and Christopher Thompson, M.A., and on November 2 and 3, 2020, by Barbara Gengenbach and Archaeological Crew Chief Cristy Abbott. The purpose of the investigation was to identify and evaluate archaeological resources within the Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) that could be eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The ESB was defined to encompass all areas wherein project-related construction activities might occur, including the proposed project limits and any areas where easements or right-of-way (ROW) might be required. The project is being done for compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (NHPA) (54 U.S.C. § 300101 et seq.). 

The total project is approximately 0.75-mi (1.21-km) long and follows the proposed right-of-way (ROW). The area surveyed included a 100-foot (ft) (30.48-meter [m]) environmental survey boundary (ESB) offset. The project is located completely within the City of Social Circle. The project will construct new curb and gutter and 6-foot (1.83m) sidewalk. The first section (North Cherokee Road) is 0.35 miles (0.56km) long and begins at the intersection of North Cherokee Road and Oak Drive and continues north to approximately 0.11 miles (0.18km) south of Rose Lane. The existing ROW is 60-feet (18.29-meters [m]) across. A typical section of North Cherokee Road consists of two 12-ft (3.66-m) lanes with 2.5-ft (0.76-m) curb and gutter, 2-ft (0.61-m) grass strips, 6-ft (1.83-m) sidewalks, and 3-ft (0.91-m) grass shoulders. The second section (South Cherokee Road) is 0.40 miles (0.64km) long beginning approximately 0.14 miles (0.23km) north of the intersection of Spring Drive and South Cherokee Road and continuing north to 0.55 miles (0.89km) south of the intersection of Cannon Drive and South Cherokee Road. The existing ROW is 60-feet (ft) (18.29-m) across. A typical section of South Cherokee Road consists of two 12-ft (3.66-m) lanes with 2.5-ft (0.76-m)curb and gutter, 2-ft (0.61-m) grass strips, 6-ft (1.83-m) sidewalks, and 3-ft (0.91-m) grass shoulders In addition, the improvements would include trees, ADA accessible curb ramps, and storm sewer upgrades. Improving pedestrian facilities would facilitate greater connectivity between neighborhood and commercial uses along North and South Cherokee Road.

The proposed project is still early in the planning phase and an Area of Potential Effects (APE) has not yet been designated. As such, the Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) for this project was established by the project engineer to include an additional 100 ft (30.48 m) from the edge of the existing ROW along all portions of Cherokee Road. The survey area for this project includes the ESB in its entirety, which measures approximately 260 ft (79.25 m) wide and 1,584 ft (482.80 m) long along North Cherokee Road and approximately 260 ft (79.25 m) wide and 1,425.6 ft (434.52 m) long along South Cherokee Road. Once the project plans are finalized, it is anticipated that the project’s APE will be smaller than the ESB that was surveyed. The project corridor is largely residential in the eastern portion, with largely undeveloped land in the middle portion, and older, residential homes in the western portion. Fieldwork for the project was conducted by Archaeologists Barbara Gengenbach and Christopher Thompson, and Crew Chief Cristy Abbott. William Green, M.A., RPA, served as the Principal Investigator for the project. The report was prepared by Barbara Gengenbach, Jonathan Brown, Marnie Gordon, and William Green. Artifact analysis was completed by Cristy Abbott and graphics were prepared by Mara Daleen, M.S. This report is organized into five chapters, including this introduction. In Chapter II, the environmental setting and precontact and historic cultural overviews of the project area are presented. Survey and laboratory methods are presented in Chapter III. The survey results and analyses are presented in Chapter IV. Chapter V contains a discussion of research and conclusions. Appendix A provides the official state site forms, while Appendix B provides the artifact catalog. Appendix C provides a copy of the Principal Investigator’s resume, and Appendices D and E contain the Landowner Notification letters and recipient list for the project corridor.