Archeological Survey of the Bethabara-Statham 115 kV Transmission Line and Bethabara 115/25 kV Substation, Oconee and Barrow Counties, Georgia

In July 2005, Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. (SAS) conducted a Phase I archeological survey of the approximately 8.1 km (5.0 mi) long proposed Bethabara-Statham 115 kV transmission line corridor and the proposed 12.1 ha (30 ac) Bethabara substation site. The proposed substation site fronts on State Route 53 just north of its intersection with U.S. Highway 78 in Oconee County and the proposed transmission line extends from that substation to an existing substation on the east side of the town of Statham in Barrow County. The Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) wishes to construct this new line within a generally 23 m (75 ft) wide corridor t that traverses woodlands and pastures. Surface exposure was generally poor and patchy in the project corridor. Consequently survey relied on systematic shovel testing, usually in one transect along the proposed centerline. Once a site was detected, it was investigated with more shovel tests along the corridor length at 10 or 20-m intervals (depending on the anticipated size of the site) and with one or several perpendicular transects of shovel tests to explore site width. Because several sites were likely very wide (that is, would extend well beyond the width of the transmission line corridor), we did not always accurately determine width of sites. Based on surface inspection and the excavation of shovel tests, we discovered and recorded eight archeological sites. Five are prehistoric lithic scatters, two are rock piles and one is a late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century house. We also recorded four artifact occurrences: three isolated prehistoric artifacts and a single nail. We recommend that none of the sites and occurrences are eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The prehistoric sites are all sparse and disturbed plowzone scatters of material. Such sites rarely have meaningful artifact patterning and features, and thus are not likely to yield important information. We conclude that the rock pile sites are of historic period origin, and are thus not of further research interest. The house site is too modern to have research potential and is not known to be associated with persons or events important in local or state history.