On August 11, 2021, Terracon Consultants, Inc. conducted a cultural resource assessment survey the Barns Farm Cellular Tower tract, located in Oconee County, Georgia (Figure 1.1). Specifically, this tract is located at Latitude N 33° 47' 57.405", Longitude W 83° 18' 23.099 which is located at 1130 Marshall Wilkes Road, Watkinsville, Oconee County, Georgia. It is located on the Barnett Shoals (2020) United States Geological Surveys (USGS) Quadrangle map. This survey was undertaken at the request of Verizon Wireless to comply with FCC regulations. The tract is the proposed location for a self-support public safety communications tower (199-feet) with associated access road, equipment pad and generator, within an 100x100 compound.
The goals of the investigation were to locate cultural resources within the study area and to evaluate their significance regarding the eligibility criteria of the National Register of Historic Places. The term "cultural resources" as used herein is meant to refer to sites or objects that are archaeological, architectural, and/or historic in nature. All work complied with the cultural resource provisions of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (PL 89-190, as amended). "Significant" cultural resources are those meeting the criteria of eligibility for listing in the National Register of Historic Places, as defined in 36 CFR 60.4 and in consultation with the Georgia State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO). Fieldwork was conducted by Archaeologist Joseph Mikos, under the direction of Brent Handley, Principal Investigator.
The investigation included background research that focused on the history of the vicinity, as well as a review of cultural resources in the area. In addition, a pedestrian inspection coupled with eight shovel tests (n=8) was also conducted. As a result of the survey, no archaeological sites, isolated finds or historic structural remains were encountered within the project area.
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