Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Roundabout on CR 248/Langston Chapel Road at CR 585/Harville Road Bulloch County, Georgia

On behalf of the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), New South Associates, Inc. (New South) conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey for a proposed roundabout on the intersection of County Route (CR) CR 248/Langston Chapel Road at CR 585/Harville Road in Bulloch County, Georgia. The work was conducted on behalf of Atkins North America, Inc. (Atkins), a consultant for GDOT. The work for this survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800) and was intended to determine the presence of National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)- eligible archaeological resources within the project’s Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB). The ESB for this survey encompasses 21.8 acres. It extends approximately 1,300 feet (ft.) (396 meters [m]) southwest, 985 ft. (300 m) south, 445 ft. (136 m) north, and 1,125 ft. (343 m) northeast of the approximate center of the intersection and measures between 235 and 300 ft. (71 and 91 m) in width. The ESB encompasses the intersections of CR 248/Langston Chapel Road at CR 585/Harville Road, Bethel Church Road, and SR 67/Fair Road, as well as the intersection of CR 585/Harville Road at Elmer Phillips Road. Bethel Church Road and Elmer Phillips Road are unpaved, while the remaining roads are paved.

As a result of the current survey, three previously unrecorded archaeological sites were identified within the ESB. All three sites are historic and contain both kitchen and architectural group artifacts. Sites 9BU143 and 9BU144 are mid-twentieth-century house sites while Site 9BU145 consists of the Middleground Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery and a twentiethcentury artifact scatter. None of the sites were fully delineated because all three sites extend outside of the ESB. The portions of these sites within the ESB lack data potential, but since these sites cannot be fully delineated, their NRHP evaluation remains unknown. No additional work is recommended for the portion of the sites within the ESB. The southeast boundary of both Sites 9BU143 and 9BU144 extend outside of the ESB and an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) should be established in each location to protect unknown parts of the sites. Details on recommendations for the cemetery are provided below.

The Middleground Primitive Baptist Church Cemetery (Site 9BU145) is located in Georgia Militia District 1547 on a 10-acre (40,468-sq. m) parcel owned by the Middleground Primitive Baptist Church. The cemetery is located on the southwest side of the intersection of Langston Chapel and Harville roads. The grounds containing the cemetery were obtained in a variety of recorded and unrecorded land transactions between 1897 and 1952, although some earlier interments may be present. The ESB along Langston Chapel and Harville roads and within church-owned property (ca. 4.93 acres or 20,018 sq. m) was visually examined and then probed to determine if marked or unmarked graves were present. Based on visual examination, the cemetery was at least 33 ft. (10 m) outside of the ESB. In addition to probing and visual inspection, portions of the ESB within the church-owned property were further examined using ground penetrating radar (GPR). While visual inspection showed no signs of graves, GPR identified anomalies of possible graves within the ESB. Six anomalies, four in the Langston Chapel Road side of the southern ESB and two in the western ESB along Harville Road, were detected. These anomalies were interpreted as lowprobability possible grave sites. Visual, probe, and GPR survey did not find graves in the areas between the outer (non-street side) margins of the drainage ditches and pavement edges of Langston Chapel and Harville roads. Review of historic records and visual/probe survey did not find indications that graves were present on church-owned property within the ESB on the east side of Harville Road. The remaining portions of the ESB that were within church property on the southwest side of the intersection of Langston Chapel and Harville roads either contained possible graves or were not examined by GPR. Brush, ditches, and other adverse surface features prevented GPR from being used in this area. Portions of the ESB north of the church parking lot on Harville Road and parts corresponding with the church lawn and westernmost portion of the church property along Langston Chapel Road were also not examined by GPR. Church grounds between the Langston Chapel and Harville road ESBs were not examined and there is a possibility that unmarked graves are interspersed within the marked graves.

The NRHP eligibility under Criterion D for the cemetery remains unknown. New South recommends that portions of the ESB on church property within the archaeologically determined cemetery boundaries be avoided. These areas contain the possible graves identified by GPR. Church property between Langston Chapel and Harville roads within the ESB that have not been examined by GPR should likewise be avoided. These areas include ESB segments north of the church parking lot on Harville Road, portions of the church lawn along the eastern side of Langston Chapel Road, and the westernmost portion of the church property along Langston Chapel Road. If avoidance is not possible, further testing is recommended. If graves are encountered, a grave relocation permit will be necessary for GDOT to comply with OCGA 36-72. New South also recommends that an ESA be created along the margins of the ESB to protect the cemetery from direct and indirect impacts associated with the-proposed construction.