Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the I-95 MM 0-8 Widening Project Jasper County, South Carolina and Effingham County, Georgia

The South Carolina Department of Transportation (SCDOT) proposes improvements and upgrades to Interstate 95 (I-95) starting near mile marker (MM) 0 in Georgia, to MM 8 approximately one mile north of US 278 near Hardeeville. The improvements would add a travel lane in each direction of I-95 toward the existing median, median clearing, barrier walls and cable guardrail installation, drainage improvements, minor improvements at Exit 5 and improvements at the Exit 8 interchange and ramps, and widen the I-95 mainline dual bridges over the Savannah River. Several bridges would be replaced, including the I-95 mainline dual bridges over Savannah Overflow, Sand Island Swamp, and S.C.L. Railroad. The alignment of John Smith Road, near Hardeeville, South Carolina, would also be modified during this project.

New South Associates Inc. (NSA) completed a Phase I Cultural Resources Survey between January and February 2022. Dolan Research Inc. (Dolan) conducted a survey of underwater portions of the project area on January 18, 2022. Follow-up surveys for the John Smith Road and Exit 8 study areas were completed from April through July 2022. A final 30-acre study area was surveyed in November, 2022. These surveys sought to identify significant cultural resources within the project’s Area of Potential Effect (APE) and assist SCDOT in meeting its obligations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800).

The Phase I terrestrial survey identified one isolated find, two new archaeological sites (38JA1251 and 38JA1252), and two previously recorded archaeological sites (38JA0162 and 38JA1135). Site 38JA0163, although mapped in the project area, was not identified during the survey. Sites 38JA0162 and 38JA1135 are recommended as not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Two archaeological sites (38JA1251, and 38JA1252) extended beyond the project area and were not completely evaluated for the NRHP; the portions within the project area lack data potential and do not contribute to the sites’ NRHP eligibility. Isolated finds by definition have no NRHP eligibility. Dolan’s underwater survey did not locate any significant archaeological sites or cultural features during visual inspection of the shorelines or remote sensing of the Savannah River and Knoxboro Creek channels.

The architectural survey involved an intensive survey of the APE, and 27 newly identified individual architectural resources and one subdivision were evaluated. None of the individual resources or the subdivision is recommended eligible for listing in the NRHP. Two previously surveyed architectural resources were identified within the APE. Neither were previously recommended eligible for listing in the NRHP, and one was determined to be no longer extant.