Phase I Archaeological Survey for a Bridge Replacement on ALT US 27/SR 41 over Coleman Creek, Meriwether County, Georgia

Edwards-Pitman, Inc. (EP) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed bridge replacement (Structure ID 199-0025-0) located on Alternative (Alt) United States (US) 27/State Route (SR) 41 over Coleman Creek in Meriwether County, Georgia for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) (PI No. 0015558). EP’s archaeological survey was completed in accordance with GDOT’s Environmental Procedures Manual (EPM) (2013), the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) (1966, as amended through 2016) and its implementing regulations (36 CFR Part 800), and follows the standards set forth by the Georgia Standards and Guidelines for Archaeological Surveys (Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists [GCPA] 2014).  

The project proposes to replace the existing bridge on Alt US 27/SR 41, also known as Roosevelt Highway, over Coleman Creek, located 6.4 kilometers (km) (4 miles [mi]) south of Luthersville, Georgia. The total length of the project is approximately 0.64 km (0.4 mi), beginning approximately 304.8 meters (m) (1000 feet [ft]) south of the existing bridge and ending approximately 304.8 m (1000 ft) north of the existing bridge. The proposed bridge will be built in the same location as the existing bridge. The proposed bridge will be a 3-span bridge, approximately 45.7 m (150 ft) long by 13.1 m (43.08 ft) wide over Coleman Creek, and will be constructed on the existing alignment. Traffic currently utilizing Alt US 27/SR 41 as a through route is anticipated to utilize an off-site detour.

The survey area for the proposed project includes all areas within an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) which was developed in consultation with Volkert, Atkins, EP, and the GDOT Office of Environmental Services (OES). The ESB was designed to encompass all areas of possible/ foreseeable ground disturbance as a result of the current project. The ESB measures approximately 895 m (2,936 ft) in length and 126.5 m (415 ft) in width, encompassing approximately 11.6 hectares (ha) (28.6 acres [ac]). When design is complete, the project area of potential effect (APE) will likely be smaller than the ESB that was surveyed.

A review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF), and Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) online database indicates that there are no previously recorded archaeological sites within a 1 km (0.62 mi) radius of the ESB. In addition, there is only one previous archaeological survey that intersects the ESB.  

EP’s Phase I survey resulted in the discovery of one previously unrecorded archaeological site within the ESB, site 9MW95. This site is a Woodland and/or Mississippi Period ceramic and lithic scatter that appears to retain integrity and contain significant data potential. It is recommended that 9MW95 be avoided, that it be designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA), and that orange barrier fencing (OBF) be installed along the as yet to be defined APE for the project for the length of the site’s eastern boundary. If the site cannot be avoided, Phase II investigations will be necessary to further evaluate the site’s data potential and integrity in order to determine its significance and NRHP eligibility. Should the project area change, additional investigation or site delineation may be required.