Reconnaissance Level Archaeology Survey of the Proposed Trail Loop (White Candle Trail), Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, Meriwether County, Georgia

The Pine Mountain Trail Association proposes construction of a ca. 2.4 mile (3.8 km) section of trail (White Candle Trail) to create a short loop off of their existing trail system. The trail will be constructed near the intersection of SRI 90 and SR85 within Franklin D. Roosevelt State Park, managed by the Parks, Recreation, and Historic Sites (PRHS) Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. PRHS contacted the Office of the State Archaeologist, housed in the Historic Preservation Division of GDNR and requested an archaeological evaluation of the proposed trail corridor. The trail will be constructed with minimum disturbance, consisting of some leveling on slopes and some trimming of vegetation. It will be similar to existing trails in the system; they are narrow and have minimal surface preparation. The trail will pass through mostly steep rocky slopes, but will cross crests and knolls in some areas. The Georgia Archaeological Site File database, maintained by the Anthropology Department of the University of Georgia, indicated that no archaeological sites had been recorded in or near the project area; however, both historic and prehistoric archaeological sites are often found on such landforms (knolls and crests), so an archaeological survey was recommended. The survey was conducted on September 1, 2005, by HPD Staff Archaeologist Ronnie Rogers, accompanied by Mr. Carl Carlson of the Pine Mountain Trail Association. Two archaeological sites were recorded along or near the corridor. The proposed trail will have no effect on either site, and no additional investigation is recommended. A Garmin GPSMap76 unit was used to record points along the corridor, archaeological sites, and other features and locations of interest. Figures 1 and 2 show the route as recorded by GPS. The trail corridor runs parallel to SRI 90 for much of its course. Remnants of an older road bed are visible along the corridor, and rock piles and alignments are frequently seen. These appear to be associated with construction of the older road and were not recorded as sites, although some are noted on the GPS map. Another common feature was earthen agricultural terraces. Widely spaced terraces were seen on gentle slopes, and the density of terraces on steep slopes was notable. Terracing and rock piling may date to Roosevelt-era conservation efforts on the property. A historic stone enclosure (Site 090105-01, Figures 3and 4) was recorded between the proposed trail and SR190. It is about 30 meters upslope from the trail. The enclosure was estimated to be ca. 20' x 30' in size. There was a thick, low mortared stone wall (ca. 2' high) on three sides, with a less substantial wall on the uphill (north) side. The uphill wall consisted of a single course of stone set on edge, and probably only served to keep runoff from entering the enclosure. A stone slab bench had been constructed near the northwest corner. There was an opening in the west wall at the northwest corner of the enclosure, and a series of stone steps led uphill to the old road bed that runs parallel to SR190.