Archeological Survey of the Proposed CR 982/Little Pine Log Creek Bridge Replacement Project in Bartow County, Georgia

The survey reported here was designed to locate archeological sites in the area of potential effect of a bridge replacement project proposed by the Georgia Department of Transportation. The bridge is located in Bartow County, along County Road 982 (Perry Road) at its crossing of Little Pine Log Creek. Where resources were identified, an attempt was made to evaluate their eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. The survey resulted in the identification of one archeological site. Site 9BR940 consists of a scatter of prehistoric and historic artifacts north and south of County Road 982, east of its crossing over Little Pine Log Creek. Fifteen of 21 shovel tests excavated within or near the proposed new right-of-way during the survey were positive. Historic period artifacts such as glass, ceramics, and nails were recovered from seven of the 15 positive survey phase tests. The historic component appeared to be the remnants of a late nineteenth or early twentieth century home, although archival sources turned up no evidence of such an occupation. This component appeared to have little research potential. Prehistoric lithics were found in all 15 positive shovel tests excavated during the survey, sometimes in large quantities. Given the density of lithic debitage in these tests, the prehistoric component on site 9BR940 appeared to represent a semi-permanent camp. There seemed a reasonable possibility of preserved domestic features such as posts and pits associated with this occupation. We therefore recommended that site 9BR940 was potentially eligible to the National Register on the basis of the research potential of this component. Although construction plans were changed to reduce the area of potential effect on site 9BR940, bridge construction could not be designed to avoid the site entirely. An archeological testing program was therefore initiated within the revised area of potential effect to resolve the status of this portion of the site in terms of its eligibility to the National Register. We excavated 19 additional shovel tests, 15 of which were positive. In addition, we excavated one 1 x 2 m test unit. The testing phase investigations indicated that artifact density is less within the reduced area of potential effect than on other portions of the site. Further, the testing assemblage consists almost entirely of debitage, with only a few tools. In addition, no features were encountered in either of the two test units. These data suggest that the portion of the site falling within the reduced area of potential effect functioned less as a semi-permanent camp-as had been assumed from the survey data-than as a temporary lithic reduction station. Based on the testing data, we believe the portion of site 9BR940 falling within the reduced area of potential effect has little research potential, and does not contribute to the eligibility of the site for the National Register. As long as construction is limited to the areas marked on revised construction plans, there should be no adverse effects to any significant archeological deposits.