Archaeological Survey Etowah Greenway Trail Cherokee County, Georgia

In October 2000, Brockington and Associates, Inc., under contract with Ecological Solutions, conducted an intensive archaeological resources survey of approximately 44 acres along the Etowah River in Canton, Georgia. The focus of Phase I survey was to locate archaeological sites and to determine if any were significant based on criteria used to determine their National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility. Background research revealed that two previously recorded archaeological sites (9CK438 and 9CK811) are located within a 0.5 mile radius of the project area. The Georgia Archaeological Site Form indicates that site 9CK438 consists of a small prehistoric artifact scatter. The site location has been greatly disturbed by construction and has been graded. Site 9CK438 was recommended not eligible for the NRHP. Site 9CK811 is a prehistoric fishing weir located west of the project area, submerged within the Etowah River. The Georgia Archaeological Site Form indicates that no NRHP recommendation has been provided for site 9CK811. Field survey was designed to assess the potential for significant subsurface resources within the project tract. Brockington and Associates archaeologists excavated 24 shovel tests within the project area. Positive shovel tests were located within the boundaries of one site (site 9CK1119) and one isolated find (Isolate 1). Testing of the site's boundary was limited by topography; the southern edge of the project tract ends abruptly with a steep slope leading to the Etowah River, and a large shopping center is located along the northern slope of the project tract. Site 9CK1119 is located on the northern side of the Etowah River in Canton, Georgia, east of Waleska Street and behind the Ingles shopping center. The project area is currently being utilized as a sod farm, and site 9CK1 1 19 is located at the eastern end of the property. The site consists of a subsurface scatter of nondiagnostic artifacts, including residual sherds and lithic shatter. Subsurface testing revealed no intact stratigraphy as the soil consists of uniform alluvial deposits from frequent flooding episodes of the nearby Etowah River. Given the lack of diagnostic artifacts, no clear stratigraphic delineation of temporal sequencing, and no evidence of cultural features, site 9CK 1119 is recommended ineligible for the NRHP. Brockington and Associates, Inc., recommends that no additional archaeological survey, testing, or mitigation is necessary within the project tract.