Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Improvements at the Intersection of SR61, CR472/Ridge Road, and CR215/Mulberry Rock Road, Paulding County, Georgia

This GDOT Archaeological Report Short Form for Negative Findings entitled Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Improvements at the Intersection of SR 61, CR472/Ridge Road, and CR215/Mulberry Rock Road, Paulding County, Georgia was created by the Prime Consultant-URS Corporation in December of 2005. The project proposes to replace the existing 4-way stop and overhead flashing beacon with a traffic signal and provide left and right turn lanes for each approach of SR61 at CR472/Ridge Road and CR215/Mulberry Rock Road intersection (see attached location map). Upgrades to shoulders and ditches would also occur throughout the project corridor. Existing right-of-way is 80 feet. Proposed right-of-way would be 160 feet. From the intersection, the proposed improvements would extend approximately 910 feet in each direction along SR61 and approximately 690 feet along both CR472/Ridge Road and CR215/Mulberry Rock Road. With regard to potential archaeological deposits, the APE is confined to the proposed ROW needed to effect proposed improvements. No soil survey is available for Paulding County, Georgia. The Atlas of Georgia (Hodler and Schretter 1986) describes the soils of the Southern Piedmont as "steep to gently rolling thin, well-drained red soil with sandy loam surface layers over sandy clay to clay subsoils. The study area lies atop of a generally east-to-west trending ridge. Vegetation within the study area consists mainly of grasses and trees typical of a rural residential/community setting. Some lots are uncultivated open fields while others have been overtaken by successional vegetation. Disturbances related to church and road construction and residential/community development were noted within the study area. These include cutting, filling, grading, paving, and landscaping, as well as utilities emplacement. The study area was examined completely through a combination of systematic shovel testing and visual inspection.