An Archaeological Survey of Proposed Improvements to McGinnis Ferry and Douglas Road Intersection, Fulton County, Georgia

On October 19, 2000 an archeological survey was conducted within the area of potential effect for a proposed reconstruction of the existing intersection of two-laned Douglas Road and two-laned McGinnis Ferry Road, in north Fulton County. The angled T-intersection will be widened to add turning lanes in both directions on McGinnis Ferry Road and a turning lane on Douglas Road. Virtually all widening will occur within 100 m of the center point of the intersection. New right-of-way and construction easement will be acquired mostly on the north side of McGinnis Ferry Road and on the east side of Douglas Road. The vast majority of the proposed construction area (the area of potential effect) has already been highly disturbed by grading for the present road and for adjoining commercial and residential developments. Archival research showed that no archeological or house sites occurred in the project area, but that one farmstead was located at the southern boundary, east of Douglas Road. The entire project area was surface inspected for features and artifacts and the few possibly undisturbed areas were shovel tested. One site (9FU392), a pair of outbuildings probably associated with a standing house located 50 m to the south was recorded. The house is the one observed on 1938 aerial photographs and older topographic maps. The site consists of a partially collapsed outbuilding (shed?) and a nearby set of stone piers for another, larger building that is presumed to have been a barn. The house with which these structures probably was associated stands about 20 m beyond the project boundaries and across the former alignment of McGinnis Ferry Road. Because we cannot be sure that the outbuildings were associated with the house on the other side of former McGinnis Ferry Road, we did not combine the house and outbuildings as one site. We recommend that this late nineteenth to early twentieth century pair of outbuildings is not eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places because it fails to meet any of the four eligibility criteria. Therefore, we conclude that the proposed reconstruction of the intersection will not adversely affect any significant archeological resources and should be allowed to proceed.