Phase I Archaeological Investigations of the Proposed Rome Regeneration Facility associate with a Fiber Optic Communications System for Williams Communications, Inc. in Floyd County, Georgia

A Phase I archaeological survey was completed by Bums & McDonnell, Inc. for Williams Communications, Inc. The archaeological survey was conducted for the proposed Rome Regeneration Station in Rome, Georgia, to be installed in conjunction with a proposed fiber optic communications system project from Austell, Georgia to Chattanooga, Tennessee. The purpose of this cultural resource investigation was to locate and record all cultural resources within the project area and to make a preliminary assessment as to their historical significance based on the National Register of Historic Places criteria. The investigation involved a search of files, literature review of all available county histories, and General Land Office field notes and maps at the Department of Natural Resources, Historical Preservation Division in Atlanta, Georgia, Georgia Archaeological Site Files in Athens, Georgia, and the University of Georgia - Main Library - Georgia Room in Athens, Georgia. This pre-field investigation disclosed all previously recorded archaeological sites and any National Register of Historic Places properties within or near the project areas. Following the pre-field research, a field survey was conducted at the proposed Rome Regeneration Station site. A recommendation on the historical significance of the site was prepared by evaluating the property against the National Register of Historic Places criteria of significance (36 CFR 60.4). All work was conducted in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior's Standards and Guideline for Archeology and Historic Preservation, (48 FR 44716-44742) and the Secretary's Standards for Identification (48 FR44720-44723). Cultural resources were not located within the project area. Therefore, based on the results of the investigations it is the opinion of the investigators that the proposed Regeneration Station site should be cleared for construction as there will be no adverse effects on historically important cultural resources.