Phase I Archaeological Survey of the District Four Bridge Pile Replacement Project, Atkinson, Coffee, Early, Grady, Lanier, Lee, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, and Worth Counties, Georgia

New South Associates conducted limited Phase I archaeological survey at 20 bridges located in 11 counties, Atkinson, Coffee, Early, Grady, Lanier, Lee, Mitchell, Seminole, Thomas, Tift, and Worth. The bridge piles are slated for replacement and the limited survey was aimed at directing heavy equipment needed for the improvements away from quadrants at each bridge which might contain archaeological resources. The existing right-of-way at each bridge was identified as the Area of Potential Effect (APE) and thus all archaeological study was confined to these boundaries. Two Isolated Finds, each consisting of a single Coastal Plain chert flake, were found during the course of the study. The flakes were found at Bridge 13 (275-5044-0) and Bridge 17 (277-5013-0). Additional shovel testing at both bridges did not locate any further archaeological deposits and no additional archaeological study at either bridge is recommended. One previously recorded archaeological site was located within the APE of one of the 20 bridges. Site 9Cf3 was recorded as lying on the eastern margins of Bridge 3 (069-5022-0) and portions of the site were encountered during shovel testing in the Bridge APE. The site has no eligibility recommendations on its site form, and the portion identified within the APE is insufficient to make an eligibility recommendation other than unknown. It is recommended that both the northeast and southeast quadrants of Bridge 3 (069-5022-0) be avoided during construction. This avoidance will be ensured by the placement of orange fabric safety fences placed at the toe of the slopes. No construction activities will be conducted on the opposite side of the orange safety fence and storage of materials opposite the fence will be prohibited. If this level of avoidance is impossible, additional testing, to determine the National Register of Historic Places eligibility of the portion of the site within the right-of-way is recommended. No archaeological deposits were recorded at the remaining17 bridges surveyed as a part of this study. Thus, no further archaeological study at these bridges is recommended.