Archeological Survey of Proposed Improvements to Abernathy and Johnson Ferry Roads, Fulton and Cobb Counties, Georgia

Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc., conducted an intensive archeological survey of proposed improvements to Abernathy and Johnson Ferry Roads, in Fulton and Cobb Counties, Georgia. The survey was conducted for the Georgia Department of Transportation, through the engineering firm of Jordan, Jones, and Goulding, Inc. The survey was carried out in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended). The act requires that federal agencies (in this case the Federal Highway Administration) take into account potential adverse effects to significant archeological sites that could result from federally sponsored or licensed undertakings. The goal of the survey was to locate, describe, and evaluate the significance of all archeological sites that could be affected by the project. Specific design plans have not been formulated, but the proposed project will include widening Abernathy Road from its current two lanes to a four-lane divided highway, improving the intersection of Abernathy and Johnson Ferry Roads, and replacing in place the Johnson Ferry Road bridge over the Chattahoochee River. The project corridor begins in Fulton County at the intersection of Abemathy and Roswell Roads. It continues west on Abernathy Road for roughly 1.2 km (0.8 mi) to the intersection with Johnson Ferry Road. It then follows Johnson Ferry Road northwest for a distance of about 1.9 km (1.2 mi), crossing the Chattahoochee River before terminating in Cobb County about 60 m north of the intersection of Johnson Ferry Road and Columns Drive. The total length of the project corridor is approximately 3.1 Ian (1.9 mi). For the purposes of this study, the project corridor measured 304.8 m (1000 ft) wide, centered on the existing roads. However, the potential area of effect for the project will likely be much narrower once specific design plans are finalized. A portion of the project area includes federally owned land of the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, and an Archeological Resource Protection Act permit was obtained from the National Park Service prior to our survey. Examination of the records of the Georgia Archaeological Site File revealed that three sites had been recorded in or near the project corridor. These include two prehistoric artifact scatters (9CO128 and 9CO367) in the floodplain north of the Chattahoochee River and a series of rock shelters (9FU157) on a ridge south of the river. Archival research, including the examination of old maps and aerial photographs, indicate that the project corridor has a long history. A road and ferry were established at or near the current crossing of Johnson Ferry Road over the Chattahoochee River in the 1830s, and several families who figure prominently in the history of Cobb and Fulton Counties resided along the road during the middle nineteenth through early twentieth centuries. Nevertheless, the project corridor remained largely rural and undeveloped until the middle twentieth century, and the portion of Abernathy Road that was surveyed was not added until the 1940s. By compiling information from various sources, we estimated that 17 houses stood in or near the project corridor before the 1950s. Today the project corridor is largely densely developed, primarily for single family residences. Exceptions include lands of the National Park Service on the north side of the Chattahoochee River and a narrow corridor (ca. 50 m wide) along both sides of Johnson Ferry Road for a distance of approximately 500 m south of the bridge over the Chattahoochee River. The extent and intensity of development limited the amount of archeological investigation that could be conducted, as well as the number of surviving sites. However, we walked the entire length of the project corridor, examining exposed ground surfaces and excavating shovel tests wherever possible. We excavated a total of 22 off site shovel tests within the project corridor. Intensive archeological survey indicated that most of the approximately 17 houses that were present in or near the project corridor more than fifty years ago have been removed or destroyed. Three houses more than fifty years in age have survived within the project corridor. Minimal archeological investigation, including the excavation of shovel tests and/or the examination of exposed ground surfaces, was conducted at all the possible house sites, including both the standing structures and the former locations of dwellings. No artifacts were encountered and thus none of the current or former house sites were recorded as archeological sites. Field reconnaissance indicated that all three of the previously recorded archeological sites are located just beyond the limits of the project area. In the case of sites 9CO128 and 9CO367, this is consistent with the information recorded on site forms and topographic maps on file at the State Archeological Site File, which indicate that these two sites are located just beyond the limits of the survey corridor. Site Files topographic maps place site 9FU157 partially within the survey corridor. However, the limits have probably been drawn from the site form by former Cobb County archeologist Larry Meier, which only vaguely notes a series of rock shelters "along east bank of Chattahoochee River, northern side of Johnson Ferry Road to bank of Marsh Creek, sitting just above sewer line." At the time of our fieldwork, the sewer line had been recently graded, affording 100% surface exposure at the base of the rock formation. No artifacts were observed, and no rock formations suggestive of prehistoric rock shelters were observed within the project corridor. However, we did observe a probable shelter a short distance to the north, beyond our survey area. Although all three of the previously recorded archeological sites appear to fall outside the project corridor, we did record one previously unreported site within the survey area. Site 9CO652 consists of a relatively large and dense scatter of prehistoric Ethics and ceramics on a terrace north of the Chattahoochee River, immediately west of Johnson Ferry Road and south of Columns Drive. The site lies on lands owned and managed by the National Park Service. It has been impacted by the construction of a gravel parking lot, but remains basically intact owing to the fact that cultural deposits are generally buried at least 30 cm below the ground surface. Artifact density and diversity are high, suggesting that the site was the scene of intensive habitations that may have significant research potential. We therefore recommend that site 9CO652 is potentially eligible to the National Register. According to the current concept design, the site lies beyond the area of potential effect. If design plans change site 9CO652 should be avoided or tested to determine its eligibility status.