Phase I Intensive Archaeological Survey for 37 Acre Tract on Newton Bridge Road, Athens- Clarke County, Georgia

Apalachee Research Archaeological Consultants, Inc. completed a Phase I Archaeological Survey for the proposed expansion of the Northeast Georgia Food Bank in December 2021. The purpose of this investigation was to assist the Northeast Georgia Regional Commission, in complying with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and its implementing regulations 36CFR800. The proposed development will consist of warehouse buildings, and associated parking and access roads on an undeveloped tract across from the current Athens Food Bank facility roughly two miles north of Athens (Figures 1 and 2). The address is 890 Newton Bridge Road.

The project area is an approximately 37-acre undeveloped tract in northern Clarke County with frontage on Newton Bridge Road and the Middle Oconee River, which form the respective western and eastern boundaries. The tract is bounded by commercial developments on adjacent parcels to the north and south. The project area includes most of Clarke County Parcel No. 104 003 with the exception of a small portion in the northwest corner, which is encompassed by the Bobcat dealership (Figure 2).

This investigation was initiated on December 3, 2021 with a background literature review, which revealed a previously recorded site (9CA74) plotted near the northwestern boundary of the project area. Fieldwork was completed on December 15, which revealed 9CA74 does not extend into the project area. Two isolated artifacts were recovered at separate locations in the southern part of the tract, which are documented as isolated finds, which by definition are not archaeological sites and do not warrant additional documentation or fieldwork. Therefore, we conclude the project area does not contain significant archeological sites and recommend no further work.