Phase I and II Archeological Testing Alexander Drive Iprovements Project 323-04-296823215 Aususta, Richmond County, Georgia

The purpose of the Phase I testing, completed on December 26, 2001, was to determine if the improvements to Alexander Drive would effect any prehistoric or historic cultural resources or historic structures within the area of potential effect. After identifying possible remains of the Hankinson-Hagler Brick Company, Phase II testing was completed in March 2002 in order to establish if any remains of the Hankinson-Hagler Brick Company still existed as described in The Georgia State Site File Number 9Ri140, and to determine if any of the remains would be effected by the area of potential effect for the proposed Alexander Drive extension. Phase II fieldwork ascertained that a portion of the remains for the Hankinson-Hagler Brick Company still existed and a segment of those remains would be within the right- f-way for the proposed Alexander Drive extension. This Phase II investigation was completed in compliance with known cultural resource guidelines and regulations of the State of Georgia (Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division) and Federal Government (Section 106). The project begins at the intersection of Washington Road/SR 28 and Alexander Drive, east of Interstate Highway 20 (1-20), and extends north to the intersection of River Watch Parkway/SR 104 and Alexander Drive. The project involves both the widening of Alexander Drive on the existing location and the straightening of Alexander Drive with a realignment addition. The total length of the project is 0.85 miles. The project area is wooded and includes the floodplain associated with Rock Creek. Ten archaeological sites are recorded within a one-mile radius of the project area, with 9Ri140 being partially in the planned right-of-way for the Alexander Drive extension and 9Ri23 to the north of the project area. These other eight sites are 9Ri54, 9Ri169, 9Ri170, 9Ri428, 9Ri441, 9Ri1028, 9Ri1060, 9Ri1061. There are also 2 (two) historic structures within the project area. Both of these structures were determined to be ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) due to structural modifications. Historic sites research was conducted at the State of Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division (HPD) in Atlanta. That search included HPD Site Files and maps, NRHP Site Files, and pending files awaiting survey and NRHP nomination. The Alexander Drive improvements section of the project area is a mixture of both commercial and residential structures. The Alexander Drive extension section of the project area is wooded and includes the flood plain associated with Rock Creek. Twenty-seven (27) shovel tests along three (3) transects were excavated during the Phase I testing and Eighteen (18) shovel tests along three (3) transects and one (1) test unit measuring 1 meter by 1 meter were excavated during the Phase II testing. All shovel tests for the Phase I survey yielded negative results and no cultural materials were recovered. Two (2) shovel tests returned positive results for the Phase II testing; however, both tests recovered only modern debris. The remnants of the Hankinson-Hagler Brick Company existing within the planned right-of-way for the Alexander Drive extension were determined not to be worthy of preservation, nor are the remains eligible for nomination under the criteria listed within 36 CFR 60.4 for the National Register of Historic Places. On the basis of the cultural resources fieldwork and background research completed it is our recommendation that the proposed development be permitted at this location.