Phase I Archaeological Survey of the I-285/I-20 Interchange Reconstruction and Widening Project Douglas, Cobb, and Fulton Counties, Georgia

New South Associates, Inc. (New South) conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey for the I- 285/I-20 Interchange Reconstruction and Widening Project (GDOT PI 0013918) as part of the Major Mobility Investment Program (MMIP). The project proposes to reconstruct and widen the I-285/I-20 West interchange in the City of Atlanta to provide operational improvements. The purpose of the Phase I Archaeological Survey was to locate and evaluate the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of archaeological resources pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) as amended.

Because plans were not available at the time of the survey and the precise area of potential effects (APE) has not yet been determined, this project area is represented by an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB), which is designed to encompass all areas of possible ground disturbance that may result from the undertaking, including existing and proposed right-of-way (ROW) and all necessary easements, along with an additional 100-foot (30-m) buffer. When the project design is complete, the APE will likely be smaller than the ESB. Total acreage for the ESB measures 641.5 acres (259.6 ha).

There are six previously recorded sites (9CO661, 9CO662, 9CO663, 9CO664, 9DO140, and 9FU507) in the ESB and three sites (9CO784, 9FU798, and 9FU799) were newly recorded. During the site revisits, archaeological material was recovered from three of the six previously recorded sites (9CO664, 9DO140, and 9FU507) and the boundaries of two sites (9DO140 and 9FU507) were expanded. No artifacts or features were identified at the other three sites (9CO661, 9CO662 and 9CO663). When they were first investigated, all of the previously recorded sites were described as fully delineated and recommended as ineligible for the NRHP. The current investigation generated no data that would change the NRHP eligibility recommendation for five of the sites (9CO661, 9CO662, 9CO663, 9CO664, and 9DO140). For Site 9FU507, the current effort expanded its boundaries and identified a stone pile that is of unknown data potential, and so New South recommends changing the site’s NRHP status to unknown. Avoidance of the stone pile at 9FU507 is recommended, as is an environmentally sensitive area (ESA) to aid in its protection. If this feature cannot be avoided, additional investigation should be undertaken to evaluate its data potential and to determine if human remains are present. Two of the newly recorded sites (9CO784 and 9FU799) were not fully delineated so their NRHP eligibility under Criterion D is unknown, but the portions of each of these sites inside the ESB are judged to lack significant data potential and integrity.

The third site (9FU798) is the McDonald Family Cemetery. The precise locations of burials in the cemetery were not identified because the markers and other surface features were moved from their original locations. The presence or absence of graves in the tested portions of the ESB and historical location of the cemetery could not be confirmed with probing, although the graves are believed to remain in their original locations, which historic maps and aerial photographs indicate are outside of the existing ROW and confined to the adjacent parcels. The site was evaluated as ineligible for the NRHP under Criteria A and C (Bowen 2020), and is recommended as having unknown eligibility under Criterion D. In discussions about the cemetery with the road designer, it was confirmed that the proposed project activities will be limited to the existing I-20 ROW, which lies south of the McDonald Family Cemetery. The location and configuration of the road ditch inside the existing ROW rules out the possibility that there are burials in the ROW. Therefore, the McDonald Family Cemetery will not be impacted by the proposed undertaking if all activities take place inside the existing ROW as planned. New South recommends complete avoidance of the private parcels bordering the north side of the existing ROW, and that these parcels should be protected with an ESA and orange barrier fence along the existing ROW. If the current design plans change and project activities would extend beyond the existing ROW limits, additional work, consisting of GPR, mechanical stripping, and/or a cadaver dog survey, are recommended in compliance with OCGA 36-72 to determine if graves would be disturbed.