Phase II Archaeological Excavation of Site 9TP919, 9TP920, and 9TP1103 for the LaGrange Bypass from County Road 282/Youngs Mill Road to State Route 1/US 27

New South Associates, Inc. (NSA) conducted Phase II testing at sites 9TP919, 9TP920, and 9TP1103 in Troup County, Georgia. The work was conducted on behalf of the Georgia department of Transportation (GDOT) and in support of the LaGrange Bypass Project (Pl No.0014077). The planned project would involve building a four-lane bypass from east of County Road (CR) 282/Youngs Mill Road to State Route (SR) I/United States Highway (US) 27 and require new right-of-way (ROW). The existing ROW ranges from approximately 150 to 250 feet (ft.) along SR I/US 27 and from approximately 80 to 140 ft. along Davis Road. The required ROW for the project would range between approximately 180 and 400 ft. A portion of the Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) for this project (approximately 7.6 acres [ac.]) crosses public lands owned by the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) and required an Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARP A) permit (DACA0 1-4-22-2015).

Following initial Phase I archaeological investigations, piled stone features of unknown temporal or cultural affiliation were identified at sites 9TP9I9, 9TP920, and 9TP1103, and their National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility under Criterion D was recommended as unknown (West et al. 2021). These sites were identified or revisited during a Phase I survey conducted by TerraXplorations, Inc. (TerraX), pursuant to the Georgia Environmental Policy Act (GEPA), Georgia Code 12-16-2(3) and in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended (16 USC 470) and implemented according to the regulations published in 36 CFR 800. TerraX recommended further study of the piled stone features (West et al. 202l). The current archaeological work was conducted to evaluate the NRHP eligibility of these sites, with particular attention to the piled stone features in the proposed required ROW, so that the undertaking's potential effects could be evaluated pursuant to GEPA and Section l06.

The Phase II investigations were conducted in two parts. The first portion of fieldwork consisted of noninvasive methods, including background research, canine scent-detection survey, site clearing, geophysical survey using a magnetic gradiometer and an electromagnetic (EM) conductivity meter, aerial drone photography, metal detecting, and Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) mapping. Additional shovel testing was also conducted at sites 9TP919 and 9TP1103.

The noninvasive methods did not result in the identification of artifacts, nor did they provide evidence to support the presence of burials at sites 9TP919, 9TP920, and 9TP1103. After the results of the noninvasive portion were reported via management summary (Pokrant and Lunsford 2021), the second portion of Phase II fieldwork was conducted. After consultation with the GDOT Office of Environmental Services (OES), nine piled stone features were selected for slot trenching. Slot trenching did not result in the identification of artifacts or pre-dug pits, small pits, or organic soil at the three sites. No evidence was found to indicate that the features at these three sites date from the precontact period. Based on the orientation of features and their relationship to the artificial configuration of the topography, as evidenced in the LiDAR survey, NSA interprets these features as the result of historic terracing, a common and widespread late nineteenth- and twentieth-century historic landscape-management practice.

Site 9TP919 is not fully delineated due to the limits of the ESB; therefore, its overall NRHP status is unknown. The northern-most portion of this site is located on USA CE prope1ty. The portion of the site within the ROW, however, lacks significant data potential. NSA recommends the unknown portion of Site 9TP919 extending outside the ESB be designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) and be avoided by ground-disturbing activities associated with project construction through the placement of orange barrier fencing (OBF).

Site 9TP920 is fully delineated, and it lacks significant data potential. Further investigations are unlikely to yield information important to the understanding prehisto1y or history. It is recommended ineligible for the NRHP.

Site 9TP1103 is fully delineated, and it lacks significant data potential. Further investigations are unlikely to yield information important to the understanding of prehistory or history. It is recommended ineligible for the NRHP.