Underwater Archaeological Investigatins of the State Route (SR) 1/SR 20/US Highway 27 Bridge Over the Etowah River, Floyd County, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is proposing to replace the State Route (SR) 1/SR 20/US Highway (US) 27 Bridge in Floyd County, Georgia, where it crosses the Etowah River (GDOT PI No. 0013718). The SR 1/SR 20/US 27 project is federally funded through the Federal Highway administration (FHWA); therefore, SEARCH assisted GDOT with its obligations under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) by conducting an archaeological investigation of the Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) prior to construction activities. According to the project plans provided by CALYX Engineers and Consultants, Inc. (CALYX), GDOT proposes to replace the existing bridge, which consists of four 3.7-meter (m) (12-foot [ft]) lanes, with a narrow, raised concrete island, and turn lanes at each end of the project’s intersections. The major intersections on each side of the bridge are SR 1 at SR 53/ 1st Street, and SR 1 at Hicks Drive/Riverbend Drive. Attached to the bridge are water and gas lines. There is lighting on the bridge, and sidewalks on both sides of the roadway and bridge. The proposed project will replace the existing bridge with a new bridge over the Etowah River and Norfolk Southern Railroad. The proposed bridge will be higher to meet minimum clearance over the railroad. The typical section will include six 3.7-m (12-ft) lanes with a 6.1-m (20-ft) raised median. The total project length is approximately 457 m (1,500 ft). The acquisition of right-of-way and easement may be necessary to accommodate the alignment and construction of the proposed project. SEARCH was contracted by CALYX to conduct a Phase Ia and Ib maritime investigation of the submerged portions of the ESB. The submerged portion of the ESB measures approximately 152 m (500 ft) upriver and downriver from the existing SR 1/ SR 20/US 27 bridge centerline and bank to bank within the Etowah River. The terrestrial Phase I archaeological survey for GDOT PI #0013718 was conducted by Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) (Franca 2019). The terrestrial ESB measures approximately 650 m (2,133 ft) in length and 91 m (300 ft) in width along SR 1/US 27.

SEARCH collected magnetic, side-scan sonar, and sub-bottom profiler data to assess the presence or absence of potential submerged cultural resources within the 3.7-acre (1.5-hectare) submerged ESB. SEARCH reviewed the pre-contact, historical, and geologic background of the region with specific attention paid to the maritime history of the Etowah River. SEARCH identified previous archaeological investigations and reported sites within the area to guide the development of the project research design and assist with interpreting the remote-sensing data. SEARCH’s archival and database review included review of the Paleoindian Database of the Americas (PIDBA); Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources GIS (GNAHRGIS); Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF); Rome-Floyd County Library; Rome Area History Museum; and other digital resources. SEARCH identified eight magnetic anomalies, 10 acoustic contacts, and eight buried reflectors within the SR 1/SR 20/US 27 Bridge remote-sensing data record. SEARCH conducted diver investigations on the eight magnetic anomalies and 10 acoustic contacts. Diver investigations identified the likely source of each magnetic anomaly and acoustic contact. Two targets (Targets 01 and 02) correspond with a previously recorded archaeological site (9FL52), and five targets (Targets 03-05, 07, and 13) correspond with four isolated finds. The remaining 11 targets were identified as modern (Targets 06, 08, 11, 14, 15, and 18) or natural objects (Targets 09, 10, 12, 16, and 17) and do not constitute a potential submerged cultural resource. SEARCH recommends that all targets identified via the marine remote-sensing investigation (Targets 01–18) lack significant data potential and are not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion D.

SEARCH identified Chapman Weir (9FL52) in remote-sensing data as Targets 01 and 02. Chapman Weir (9FL52) was initially recorded in 1975 by James Chapman, but did not make a NRHP eligibility determination. Diver investigations revealed 9FL52 to not contain a fish weir, but rather a pipe and geologic feature resembling a stereotypical “V”-shaped fish weir. SEARCH recommends that Chapman Weir (9FL52) lacks significant data potential and is not eligible for listing in the NRHP under Criterion D.

SEARCH identified Target 03 as Isolated Find (IF) #1, Targets 04 and 05 as IF #2, Target 07 as IF #3, and Target 13 as IF #4. Target 03/IF #1 was identified as a metal spool and glass jar, the latter dating to the mid-twentieth century. Targets 04 and 05/IF #2 were identified as a large rock with a circular cut hole. Target 07/IF #3 was identified as piece of iron machinery. Target 13/IF #4 was identified as an iron pipe fragment and a Brookfield Beehive aqua glass insulator. By definition, IFs are not considered archaeological sites. IFs #1-4 are not eligible for listing in the NRHP under any criterion. SEARCH recommends no additional archaeological work or avoidance of any remote-sensing target within the proposed submerged ESB.