Archaeological Survey of Proposed Improvements to County Road 307 at Big Slough Creek, Mitchell County, Georgia

Mitchell County wishes to improve a 975-m length of County Road 307 (Old Georgia Highway 3) that crosses Big Slough Creek and Big Slough Creek Overflow, just north of the town of Camilla. This section of roadway was formerly part of State Route 3, U.S. Highway 19 and, as shown on a 1920 Soil Survey map, the Dixie Highway. Two alternative plans are under consideration. One is to replace the existing two concrete bridges with larger ones, and the other is to build new bridges on new location right-of-way about 20 m north of the existing bridges and highway. The area of potential effect for both alternatives, essentially an area 975 m long by an average of 60 m wide, was archeologically surveyed on August 25 and 26, 1999. A prior review of Georgia Archeological Site Files showed no sites had been recorded in or near the project area. Early to mid-twentieth century maps and aerial photographs showed seven structures once existed within or adjacent to the project area. The western-most structure has been completely obliterated by modem housing, but the other six were recorded as five archeological sites. Two of these twentieth century house sites also contained sparse prehistoric lithic scatters. We recommend that none of these five sites meet eligibility criteria for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. A sixth site recorded during our survey consists of the concrete piers to a 1913 bridge over Big Slough Creek. This bridge was replaced by the current concrete bridge between 1952 and 1967. We recommend that the 1913 bridge piers are not eligible for listing in the National Register because they lack integrity and fail to meet eligibility criteria. In summation, it is the recommendation of the Principal Investigator that no archeological sites eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places exist with the area of potential effect for the proposed undertaking.