New South Associates conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of a proposed water line location at the Chestatee River crossing of Georgia Highway 400 in Lumpkin County, Georgia. The survey was completed on August 8, 2001. The survey corridor is approximately 500 feet long. Most of the area occurs within the floodplain of the Chestatee River. Almost the entire survey corridor is located within a previously recorded, but undefined archaeological site, 9Lu7. Both the current study and the one that first recorded the site uncovered evidence that the site is intact and eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. New South Associates therefore recommended avoidance of the site. Based on this recommendation, the project corridor was moved so that it is within existing Georgia Department of Transportation right-of-way for GA 400. The right-of-way has already been impacted by the construction of the highway and its impact on 9Lu7 mitigated by archaeological data recovery efforts undertaken prior to disturbance. Therefore, New South Associates believes the project will not have an adverse effect on the site's ability to yield archaeological information as long as construction activities are contained within the previously disturbed and mitigated, GDOT corridor. However, ground disturbance of any portion of this site will require consultation with interested Native American groups by the lead Federal Agency.
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