PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES SURVEY OF THE STATE ROUTE (SR) 8/SR 53 AT COUNTY ROAD (CR) 139/JACKSON TRAIL ROAD IMPROVEMENTS, BARROW COUNTY, GEORGIA.

In June of 2020, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of a proposed Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) roadway improvement to the intersection of State Route (SR) 8/SR 53 and County Road (CR) 139/Jackson Trail Road in Barrow County, Georgia, approximately 2.8 miles (4.5 kilometers [km]) southeast of the city of Winder. The proposed project, identified as Project PI No. 0016351, proposes to enhance the safety and reduce crash frequency and severity by installing a roundabout at the intersection. The existing right-of-way (ROW) along SR 8/SR 53 is 100 feet (ft) (30.48 meters [m]) in total width. The existing ROW along CR 139/Jackson Trail varies between 75 ft (22.86 m) and 80 ft (24.38 m) in total width.

As the project is currently in the concept phase of development, an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) was considered as the survey area. The dimensions of the ESB were determined prior to fieldwork by the design team and were intended to encompass an area large enough to capture any potential variations in project design work. The final design for the project is anticipated to be smaller in size than the dimensions of the project ESB. The ESB extends lengthwise for approximately 0.69 miles (1.11 km) along SR 8/SR 53 and for approximately 0.56 miles (0.90 km) along CR 139/Jackson Trail Road. The width of the ESB varies between 400 ft (121.92 m) and 500 ft (152.40 m). The ESB totals approximately 70.03 acres (ac) (28.34 hectares [ha]) in size. The required ROW, needed easements, and staging areas for this project have not yet been determined.

This Phase I archaeological survey was completed to assist GDOT in complying with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800). The primary tasks involved to complete this survey were background research and field survey. A review of the Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources GIS (GNAHRGIS) database revealed that portions of the ESB have been the partial subject of two previously conducted archaeological surveys conducted by Edwards-Pitman Environmental (EPEI) in 2010 and GDOT in 2016 in support of another, separate GDOT intersection improvement project (PI No. 0008431) located southeast of the ESB at SR 316/United States Highway (US) 29 and SR 8/SR 53 (Pietak 2010; Williams 2017).

During the course of the archaeological investigation, a total of 403 shovel tests were excavated within the ESB. A total of 370 shovel tests were negative for cultural material and features; 33 shovel tests were positive. Twelve shovel tests could not be dug due to paved surfaces which prevented subsurface investigation. These locations could not be reasonably offset and were recorded as “No Dig” on shovel test maps. The total depths of the shovel tests varied but were for the most part consistently shallow. Phase I field survey resulted in the revisit to one previously recorded archaeological site within the ESB (9BW126), the identification of eight new archaeological sites, and one Isolated Find (IF). Site 9BW126 is a low-density mid nineteenth to early twentieth century historic artifact scatter, ruinous chimney, and partially collapsed shed site previously recorded within the southeastern section of the ESB, south of the SR 8/SR 53 roadway. The 2016 addendum report recommended 9BW126 as ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. During the current survey, a total of 55 shovel tests were excavated as part of revisit to site 9BW126, with one shovel test being positive for cultural material. The stacked stone ruinous chimney feature and partially collapsed wooden shed structure were both reidentified within the site area. As the positive shovel test could not be fully delineated to the south, it is possible the site extends beyond the survey area. Therefore, the overall NRHP recommendation of the site under Criterion D should be considered unknown. The portion of the revisited site within the survey area was found to be consistent with the 2016 evaluation and it continues to lack integrity and significant data potential under Criterion D of the NRHP. The unknown areas of the site located beyond the ESB is recommended an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) and demarcated with orange barrier fencing (OBF) at a location to be determined as design work proceeds.

As a result of the current survey eight sites were identified. One site (9BW142) is a ruinous historic tenant farm homestead site consisting of a low-density historic artifact scatter, and numerous architectural features. Surface features within the site include a set of 13 in-situ foundation piers comprised of stacked and mortared field stones, a tin sheet and concrete capped well and molded concrete wellhead, brick rubble pile, and a partially standing tinsided/ wood-framed shed structure. Artifacts were recovered from the surface and from five positive shovel tests. As feature preservation is good, and the potential for further subsurface features is high, the site potentially contains data significant to understanding of the tenant farming and tenant homesteading systems in Winder and Barrow County during the early twentieth century. The site is recommended eligible under Criterion D and is a contributing resource to the recently identified and NRHP recommended eligible Smith Family Farm Historic District.

The portions of four sites, 9BW141, 9BW144, 9BW145, and 9BW148, within the ESB, lacked significant data potential; however, the overall eligibility of these sites is recommended to be considered unknown under Criterion D. 9BW141 is a localized twentieth century historic scatter resulting from a single positive shovel test. 9BW144 (Smith Family Homestead) is a low-density historic artifact scatter and farmstead identified by five positive shovel tests and four standing features: the main house (built ca. 1897), two rear outbuildings, and an above ground propane tank. Based on the material and information recovered, the site does not contribute to the Smith Family Farm Historic District NRHP eligibility under Criterion A. As the site could not be fully delineated, the overall NRHP eligibility under Criterion D should be considered unknown. Site 9BW145 is a low-density scatter of twentieth century historic debris identified from 11 positive shovel test. Site 9BW148 (Smith Family Cemetery) is a burial ground with no physical markings or boundaries delimiting its eastern and western extents, though numerous graves are marked by granite and brick coping along its eastern edge. The cemetery is located outside of the current survey area, but within the viewshed defined for the HRSR. The cemetery was evaluated for the NRHP and recommended as a contributing feature to the Smith Family Farm District’s eligibility under Criteria A and C. As the current survey did not investigate the cemetery, the resource’s NRHP eligibility is unknown under Criterion D. The unknown portions of these sites located outside the survey area should be classified as ESAs and demarcated with OBF at a location to be determined as design work proceeds.

Three sites (9BW143, 9BW146, and 9BW147) are razed historic structures that lack integrity and significant data potential and are recommended ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. In addition, IF-1 is a single milk glass lid fragment recovered during excavation of ST A9, approximately 40 m northeast of SR 8/SR 53. The artifact likely dates to the late nineteenth and early twentieth century. No additional artifacts or features were identified nearby. By definition, IFs are not considered archaeological sites, and are therefore not eligible for the NRHP.