Phase I Archaeological Resources Survey for the Proposed SR 51 Nails Creek Tributary Bridge Replacement Franklin County, Georgia

Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted an intensive Phase I archaeological resources survey on 8 October 2002 for the proposed Nails Creek Tributary Bridge Replacement (State Route [SR] 51 over Nails Creek) in Franklin County, Georgia, under contract with Greenhorne & O'Mara, Inc. The project corridor is approximately 426 meters (1,400 ft) long and is located along SR 51 where it crosses the Nails Creek tributary. The project corridor extends approximately 152 meters (500 ft) east of Nails Creek and runs parallel to SR 51. The project also extends approximately 274 meters (900 ft) west of Nails Creek and runs parallel to SR 51. The project corridor width is approximately 60 meters (200 ft). For this project, the area of potential effect (APE) is defined as the length and width of the project corridor. Background research and field survey were conducted to provide accurate and reliable locations of archaeological sites in the project area, provide an evaluation of National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility for all identified archaeological resources in the project corridor, and provide recommendations for mitigation if avoidance of NRHP eligible sites is not possible. This survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The archaeological field survey consisted of pedestrian inspection of the entire project corridor. Visual surface inspection and shovel testing were conducted within the project boundaries. Shovel tests were dug at 30 meter (100 ft) intervals within single transects traversing the length of the corridor on both the northern and southern sides of SR 51. Brockington and Associates, Inc., found no significant archaeological resources within the project APE as it is currently defined. Archaeological clearance for the proposed Nails Creek Tributary Bridge Replacement is recommended.