Intensive Archaeological Field Survey of the Cobb Creek Bridge Replacement, Toombs County, Georgia

A two-person crew of New South Associates, Inc. conducted a survey of the Cobb Creek Bridge replacement on June 5, 2002. The bridge is located on SR 147 (Figure 1), approximately halfway between Baxley and Reidsville (i.e., roughly 22 kilometers, or 13.5 miles, from each town), in southern Toombs County, Georgia. The survey involved surface inspections and shovel test excavations of both sides of the bridge, with the intent of locating archaeological artifacts and features.

                The proposed right-of-way for the bridge replacement follows that of the existing bridge but is slightly wider. According to the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) plans the proposed bridge replacement will require between 30 and 200 feet of additional right-of-way for about 400 feet on either side of Cobb Creek. Archaeological survey covered this area completely, extending 120 meters (400 feet) east and west from the creek on either side of SR 147 and an additional 120 meters (400 feet) north and south from the road along the banks of Cobb Creek. A previously recorded prehistoric site at the creek suggested that the potential for locating artifacts in the area was good. However, only a single artifact was recovered from the surface. It is possible that this lone artifact represents a westward extension of the previously recorded site. However, such a spare deposit within the proposed right-of-way is unlikely to yield significant information about the prehistory of the area and no further work within the proposed right-of-way for the bridge replacement is recommended.

                The report is divided into four sections including this introduction. Section II discusses the environmental and archaeological setting of the project area, Section III describes the survey methodology, and Section IV presents the project results and discusses recommendations. The resume of the principal investigator is included as Appendix A.