In March 2022, Trileaf Corporation (Trileaf) performed a cultural resource inventory survey for a proposed self-support lattice telecommunications tower located in Folkston, Charlton County, Georgia (Latitude: 31° 0’ 12.94” Longitude: 82° 7’ 44.76”). The proposed project is located within a partially wood-covered and grassy area.
Tillman Infrastructure LLC proposes to construct a 235-foot (71.6-meter) self-support lattice telecommunications tower with an overall height of 260 feet (79.3 meters) including all appurtenances, and associated ground-based equipment within a 100 x 100-foot (30.5 x 30.5-meter) cell tower lease area. The project includes a 12-foot-wide (3.7-meter-wide) gravel drive within a 30-foot-wide (9.1-meterwide) access and utility easement extending approximately 78 feet (23.8 meters) west-southwest from the lease area to adjoin US Highway 1. Total acreage of the new construction area is approximately 0.27 acres (0.1 hectare).
Senior Project Archaeologist, Danielle Young, M.A., RPA, under the direction of Trileaf, performed this survey in response to the planned use of the above-described parcel and the potential impacts that such use might present to archaeological and architectural cultural resources. The Phase I cultural resource survey was designed to discover all precontact and historical period cultural resources that might be present within the project area.
The field survey of the project area, which included a pedestrian survey, shovel testing, and visual inspection, yielded no evidence for the presence of archaeological or architectural properties within the Direct APE for the current project. Additionally, based on a map and survey form search using the resources of the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office GNAHRGIS GIS platform, inspections of the Georgia Archaeological Site Files (GASF 2022), as well as the resources of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) conducted by Danielle Young, M.A., RPA, Senior Project Archaeologist of Trileaf Corporation, on March 10, 2022, identified no NRHP-listed or NRHP-eligible historical resources located within the ¾-mile Visual APE. However, three (3) GNAHRGIS historical properties were identified (15781, 15782, 15783), with no prior determination of NRHP-eligibility, but included for inclusivity. None of these resources could be located in the field. A review of archaeological sites and surveys, conducted by the GASF on March 14, 2022, identified no previously identified archaeological sites and one (1) previously recorded archaeological survey (5166) within a 1-mile radius of the proposed project area.
Based on these findings, Trileaf recommends No Historic Properties within the Direct APE and No Historic Properties within the ¾-mile Visual APE. It is therefore recommended that project clearance be granted with no further investigation or evaluation of the project area.
Help us to continue to make advances in research, stewardship, and bringing the past to life. No matter the size of the gift, your contribution will directly support groundbreaking archaeological research through sustaining student and outreach programs, and technological innovations. To make a secure gift online to the Archaeology Lab Fund, CLICK HERE.