An Archeological Testing of A Portion of 9FU4 at the Site of the Proposed Riverside Road Pump Station Roswell, Georgia

The portion of archeological site 9FU4 to be impacted by the proposed construction of the Riverside Road Pump Station was tested by Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. during the period of August 6-8, 1991. The project area encompasses proposed construction areas as well as areas of a proposed parking lot, access road and spoil dirt storage (see Figure next page) and totals 2.1 ac (0.85 ha). The project area contains two standing structures associated with a mid-twentieth century farm complex. The goal of testing was the assessment of the site's eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places. The property, presently owned by Fulton County, will be substantially altered by proposed construction. Testing consisted of the excavation of 65 shovel tests (30 cm diameter) placed on a ten meter grid, followed by backhoe trenching and test pit excavation. Within the 1.3 ac/0.5 ha (275 ft long by 200 ft wide) pump station/parking lot construction area, backhoe trenches and hand excavated test pits were utilized to access site integrity. Because previous investigation (Rogers 1991) had indicated that preserved midden deposits were not present in the construction area, the evaluation of site integrity was to be based primarily upon the presence or absence of preserved features within the subsoil zone. Shovel testing defined prehistoric site boundaries for that portion of 9FU4 which lay within the project area as covering most of the high, level ground. Testing confirmed that artifacts were restricted to the plowzone but the plowzone was variable in composition, relating in part to areas of greater or lesser disturbance. This disturbance is the result of long term plowing and associated erosion, construction of modem structures and road construction. Plow scars were evident at the contact between the plowzone and subsoil indicating that the area had been previously cultivated. Ten backhoe trenches measuring 3 by 5 m (total of 150 m ) and four 1 x 1 m test pits (4 m) were excavated. No prehistoric features were identified in the ten trenches, four test pits or 65 shovel tests. One modem historic feature, consisting of a narrow, elongated depression containing charcoal, was identified next to the presently standing bam. The recommendation of the present phase of investigation as well as the original survey (Rogers 1991) is that the standing structures are not eligible for nomination to the National Register. Testing of the prehistoric component also indicates that the archeological site should not be recommended eligible for nomination. The project area has been severely disturbed by plowing, erosion and previous construction which has apparently destroyed any prehistoric features that might have existed on this portion of the site. This disturbance has also displaced many of the prehistoric artifacts and thus distorted the boundaries of activities areas. Further work would not provide significant new information. It is the recommendation of the principal investigator that the proposed construction of the Riverside Road Pump Station will not affect any significant cultural resources (ones eligible to the National Register of Historic Places) and that, in regard to cultural resources, the project should be given clearance to proceed.