The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is in the process of widening U.S. Highway 441 to a four lane-divided highway, and as part of the process conducted cultural resource surveys in Dodge, Laurens and Wheeler Counties in 1995. The historic Buie turpentine complex was recognized and delineated on U.S. 441 in southern Laurens County, and the GDOT has subsequently designed a 5.2 km (3.2 mi) bypass of this eligible National Register District. Southeastern Archeological Services conducted an archeological survey of this proposed bypass and ancillary connecting roads in March of 2001. Our archeological survey recorded five new archeological sites and revisited two previously recorded sites. The sites are sparse prehistoric lithic scatters and/or late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century house sites. We recommend that none of the new sites are eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. The two previously recorded sites were recommended as not eligible, and we concur with this recommendation. In conclusion, it is the opinion of the principal investigator that the proposed bypass and associated connecting roads will not adversely affect any significant (National Register eligible) archeological resources.
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