Archaeological Survey Proposed Austell Intermodal Facility, Austell Georgia

Brockington and Associates, Inc. conducted an intensive archaeological survey for the proposed Norfolk Southern Austell Intermodal Facility (Austell Tract) in February and March 1997. The Austell Tract is located in southwest Cobb County, Georgia, northwest of Austell and southeast of Powder Springs. The area of archaeological survey includes 450 acres proposed for construction, surrounded by additional acreage owned by Norfolk Southern Railway Company. The total survey tract is bounded to the south by Sweetwater Creek; to the west by US Highway 278 (Thornton Road), the Norfolk Southern Atlanta-Chattanooga main line, and Powder Springs Creek; and to the east by Powder Springs-Austell Road. The primary goals of the survey were to identify all archaeological sites within the project area boundaries and to develop National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility recommendations for these sites. This survey was conducted as part of the environmental documentation for a U.S. Army Corps Engineers Section 404 permit (Clean Water Act of 1948, as amended through 1987), in accordance with requirements of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended through 1992). Intensive survey included historic background research and archaeological field work. One historic archaeological site (9C0493) was previously recorded within the project tract. Site 9C0493 was recorded as a cluster of three house ruins along Old Westside Road. During the current survey, two components of this site were recorded as separate sites (9C0514 and 9C0515), represented by disturbed and redeposited architectural and domestic artifacts. The third component was apparently destroyed during construction of new Westside Road. Site 9C0493 will be deleted from the site files. These sites are recommended ineligible for the NRHP, and no additional investigations are recommended. Five prehistoric archaeological sites (9C0273, 9C0274, 9C0275, 9C0295, and 9C0452) were previously recorded within 800 meters (0.5 miles) of the project tract. These five sites will not be affected by the proposed intermodal facility development, and no additional investigations are recommended. Ten archaeological sites were recorded during intensive survey of the Austell Tract (Table 1). Sites 9C0514, 9C0515, 9C0516, 9C0517, 9C0518, and 9C0519 consist of disturbed scatters of historic architectural and domestic artifacts. These sites represent middle to late twentieth century homesteads which have been razed, salvaged, and graded, and exhibit no research potential. These sites are recommended ineligible for the NRHP and no additional investigations are recommended. Site 9C0520 is a middle to late twentieth century house site with associated outbuilding ruins. This site exhibits limited research potential and is recommended ineligible for the NRHP; no additional investigations are recommended. Prehistoric sites 9C0513, 9C0521, and 9C0522 are located on elevated terraces of Powder Springs Creek. Site 9C052 1 is an extensive scatter of lithic and ceramic artifacts which has been disturbed by agriculture and silviculture. Artifacts are extremely fragmentary and generally nondia-nostic. This site is recommended ineligible for the NRHP, and no additional investigations ' are recommended. Based on survey-level results, 9C0513 and 9C0522 were initially recommended potentially eligible for the NRHP and additional testing, (formal test unit excavation) was undertaken. Artifacts representing Middle and Late Archaic site use and possible Woodland or Mississippian occupations were recovered in plow-disturbed soils at 9C0522. No undisturbed artifact-bearing zones are present, and potential for cultural features is extremely low. Site 9C0522 is recommended ineligible for the NRHP, and no additional investigations are recommended. Site 9C0513 contains moderately disturbed cultural deposits representing Middle Archaic through Mississippian occupations. An undisturbed soil zone and a cultural feature beneath the disturbed plowzone were encountered in the central portion of this site. Artifacts recovered from this midden and feature are diagnostic of the Middle Woodland, Cartersville Phase. Based on site testing results, 9C0513 exhibits evidence of intact cultural deposits representing a specific cultural period. This site shows good potential for contributing to our knowledge of prehistoric settlement in this area during the Cartersville Phase, and is recommended eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D, at the local level of significance. Current construction plans indicate that development of the Austell Tract by Norfolk Southern Railway Company will adversely affect 9C0513. Mitigation through data recovery is recommended. If mitigation measures acceptable to all review agencies are implemented for 9C0513, archaeological clearance for the proposed Norfolk Southern Railway Company Austell Intermodal Facility is recommended.