Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed State Route 92 and Butner Road Roundabout Project, Fulton County, Georgia

AECOM Technical Services, Inc. (AECOM) conducted fieldwork for the Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed State Route (SR) 92 and Butner Road roundabout in Fulton County, Georgia.

AECOM was contracted by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to locate and evaluate archaeological resources within the Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) provided to AECOM by GDOT. The ESB for AECOM’s archaeological survey included the project limits and the anticipated required right-of-way (ROW) and was designed specifically to encompass all areas of possible/foreseeable ground disturbance as a result of the current project (Figure 1). This investigation examined archaeological resources within the ESB for the proposed undertaking and assessed their eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). AECOM conducted this investigation in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended; the Archaeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974; and Title 36 of the Code of Federal Regulations (CFR), Parts 60-66 and 800, as appropriate. Further, the investigation complied with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA) and was conducted in accordance with the Georgia Department of Transportation’s (GDOT’s) Environmental Procedures Manual (EPM) (GDOT 2013) and followed the guidelines set forth by the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists’ (GCPA) Guidelines for Archaeological Investigation (GCPA 2014). The Principal Investigator is qualified under the Secretary of the Interior’s Professional Qualifications Standards (36 CFR 61-Standards and Guidelines for Archaeology and Historic Preservation) and supervised all work.

The proposed project is the construction of a 106-foot (ft) x 222-ft (32-meter [m] x 67-m) elliptical, single roundabout with pedestrian facilities and lighting at the intersection of SR 92 and Butner Road. State Route 92 is a two-lane Rural Principal Arterial connecting the cities of Fairburn, Union City, South Fulton, and Atlanta in Fulton County and Douglasville in Douglas County. The proposed roundabout will have a 14-ft (4-m) to 18-ft-6 inch (5.67-m) roundabout truck apron with Type 9 mountable curb. The existing ROW width varies from 60 to 110 ft (18 to 34 m) and the proposed ROW width will vary from 90 to 110 ft (27 to 34 m). The overall project length along both roadways is 0.47 miles (0.76 kilometers). The survey area measures 38.7 acres (15.7 hectares) in total (Table 1).

The Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed SR 92 and Butner Road roundabout in Fulton County resulted in the identification of one new archaeological site. Site 9FU788 is a mid-twentieth century domestic residence and possible farmstead. Survey of the site recovered one non-diagnostic artifact and three surface features were noted in the field. The single artifact and the features did not provide any significant information on the occupants or their use of the site. The structure is believed to have been razed, and any remaining materials removed. The lack of intact deposits along with the practice of clearing materials from farmsteads indicates that site 9FU788 does not possess integrity or significant data potential. Therefore, site 9FU788 is recommended as ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. No further archaeological work is recommended for the proposed project area.