Addendum to the Archaeological Survey and Testing for the Proposed Replacement of the SR 100 Bridge Over the Coosa River, Floyd County, Georgia

During April 2007, archaeologists with Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted additional survey for the replacement of the SR 100 bridge over the Coosa River. The original survey was conducted in September and October of 2002 by Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. (SAS), and testing of 9FL174 was conducted in March and April of 2003. The new Area of Potential Effect (APE) measures 5,050 feet (1539 m) in length, and is 31 feet (9 m) longer than the original APE. Additional right-of-way (ROW) has widened the APE in the northwestern and southwestern quadrants. Additionally, new ROW for the realignment of County Route (CR) 2/Morton Bend Road has been added in the both the southwestern and southeastern quadrants of the APE. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate archaeological sites within the APE of the proposed undertaking, so that potential effects to any resources identified could be evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The project was conducted under a contract with Heath and Lineback Engineers, Inc. Prior to the survey by SAS, there were three previously recorded sites located in the APE and six located within a one km radius of the APE. One of these sites, 9FL174, was recommended by SAS for further testing. Based on Phase II testing, 9FL174 was recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and mitigation was recommended in any areas of the site that would be impacted by bridge construction. No new archaeological sites or isolated finds were recorded during the additional survey by EPEI archaeologists. A portion of the new APE is adjacent to the western boundary of 9FL174. Three positive shovel tests confirm that 9FL174 extends to the edge of the new APE. However, artifact density is low in the new portion of the APE and the archaeological deposits have been heavily disturbed by the construction of a massive spoil heap. The potential for intact features is low. Therefore, the portion of 9FL174 within the new APE does not contribute to the site's eligibility. EPEI recommends that archaeological deposits located in the newly-added portion of the APE west of SR 100 do not need to be mitigated during data recovery operations.