Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the 152.4-Acre Auburn Quarry Expansion and Phase II Archaeological Testing of Rock Pile Sites 9BW159, 9BW160, 9BW161, and 9BW162

Brockington and Associates, Inc. (Brockington) completed Phase I cultural resources survey for Martin Marietta Materials, Inc. (Martin Marietta) for a USACE, Savannah District Section 404, 1972 Clean Water Act (as amended) permit ahead of proposed quarry expansion at the Auburn Quarry in Barrow County, Georgia. Brockington's survey included both historic resource (architectural) and archaeological investigations.

The historic resource survey of a 0.25-mile radius surrounding the Auburn Quarry identified eight architectural resources within the 0.25-mile viewshed. Of these, one is recommended National Register of Historic Places (NRHP)-eligible (MAQl) and seven are recommended ineligible (MAQ2; MAQ3; MAQ4; MAQS; MAQ6; MAQ7; MAQ8) (Table i). Resource MAQl is the remnants of the Bramlett Farm, an early to mid-twentieth century farm complex. Brockington recommends the resource eligible under Criteria B and C (people and architecture). However, due to existing setting impacts and the destruction of its historic boundary, the farm's viewshed and setting have already been compromised, and it contains no NRHP-qualifying aesthetics in terms of setting. The proposed quarry expansion will not physically affect any NRHP-qualifying features of the design, materials, or workmanship. Therefore, Brockington recommends a finding of No Adverse Effect.

The archaeological survey of all previously unsurveyed portions (152.4 acres) of the Auburn Quarry identified seven new archaeological sites and n-vo isolated finds (9BW159; 9BW160; 9BW16l; 9BW162; 9BW156; 9BW157; 9BW158; Isolate l; Isolate 2) (see Table i). Three of these were recommended ineligible for the NRHP, but the four rock pile sites required additional testing to determine archaeological significance.

Brockington conducted Phase II testing of Sites 9BW159, 9BW160, 9BW161, and 9BW162 following the end of the Phase I survey. Each rock pile feature was photographed, drawn, and metal detected before being archaeologically investigated. Brockington personnel then bisected each rock pile, removed half of the rock material, excavated a l-by-1-meter (m) shovel test near the pile center, photographed and sketched a profile view, and took soil samples for detailed soil analysis. Based on Phase II testing, Brockington interprets all the rock piles at Sites 9BW159, 9BW160, 9BW161, and 9BW162 as historic rock discard piles related to historic field clearing practices. There is no evidence of the rock piles containing or covering human remains. Therefore, Brockington recommends these sites are not eligible for inclusion on the NRHP, and no additional management is needed.