Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI), under a contract with Holt Consulting Company, conducted a Phase I archaeological survey for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) project to replace GDOT Bridge 025-0022-0 on U.S. Highway (US) 82/State Route (SR) 520 over Big Creek approximately 3 miles west of Hoboken in Brantley County (GDOT P.I. No. 0013713). The survey sought to identify archaeological sites in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). The fieldwork was conducted in May and June, 2018.
The survey area for the proposed project includes all areas within an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) provided by Holt Consulting Company to EPEI. The ESB measures approximately 131 meters (430 feet) wide and 1,014 meters (3,325 feet) long, and is designed specifically to encompass all areas of possible/foreseeable ground disturbance as a result of the current project.
The existing right-of-way (ROW) of US 82 is 60.96 meters (200 feet) wide, while the ROW for the CSX railroad immediately north of, and adjacent to, the highway is 48.77 meters (160 feet) wide. This railroad was recommended eligible for listing on the NRHP and is further detailed in a separate historic resources survey report by EPEI (2018). The total project length is approximately 1,014 meters (3,325 feet).
A review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) and the Georgia Natural, Archaeological, Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) online databases indicates that there is one site, 9BT2, located within and adjacent to the ESB. This site is represented by a single isolated find, a non-diagnostic chert flake, and is recommended ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). This site underwent close-interval shovel testing within the established ESB in order to verify the site boundaries. This investigation yielded no cultural material within the previously recorded site boundaries and the ESB. Because GCPA (2015) standards define isolated finds as ineligible for listing on the NRHP, EPEI recommends that the original ineligible NRHP recommendation remain.
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