Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed SR107 Widening Project, Turner, Irwin, and Ben Hill Counties, Georgia

During March, May, and December 2007, archaeologists with Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a survey for the proposed SR 107 widening between Fitzgerald and Ashburn, Georgia in Turner, Irwin, and Ben Hill Counties, Georgia. The project includes three sections with separate project numbers for a total of 24.5 miles. Project STP-0000-00 (311) would widen State Route (SR) 107 from Interstate (1) 75 to County Road (CR) 250/Waterloo Highway in Turner County, Georgia. The project would widen SR 107 from two travel lanes with five-foot shoulders to a rural four lane section with a 44-foot depressed median. The project length is approximately 7.9 miles. Project STP-0000-00 (314) would widen SR 107 from CR 120/Waterloo Highway to CR 264/Jeff Davis Road in Turner and Irwin Counties, Georgia. The project would widen SR 107 from two travel lanes with five-foot shoulders to a rural four lane section with a 44-foot depressed median. The project length is approximately 7.1 miles. Project STP-0000-00 (313) would widen SR 107 from CR 264/Jeff Davis Road to SR 11 /US 129 in Irwin and Ben Hill Counties, Georgia. The project would widen SR 107 from two travel lanes with five-foot shoulders to a rural four lane section with a 44-foot depressed median from CR 264/Jeff Davis Road to Bells Cabin Road. The project would widen SR 107 from two travel lanes with five-foot shoulder to a rural lane section with a 24-foot raised median from Bells Cabin Road to SR 11/US 129. The project length is approximately 9.5 miles. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate archaeological sites within the Area of Potential Effect (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 Florence and Hutcheson, Inc. and Carter-Burgess. The survey of the project corridor resulted in the identification of 25 archaeological sites and 13 isolated finds. In addition, two previously recorded sites located in the current APE, were revisited. Prior to EPEI's revisit, one of these sites was recommended as of unknown eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The portion of the site within the current project's APE is very disturbed and so does not contribute to the site's eligibility. It is recommended the project be allowed to proceed as planned within the APE, but as the entire site has not been investigated, no clear eligibility recommendation is possible. One site was originally recommended ineligible and additional work in its vicinity during the current project confirms that the site is ineligible. Two of the 25 sites identified during fieldwork, are recommended ineligible for the NRHP. The remaining 23 sites are of unknown eligibility for the NRHP, although the portions of these sites within the current APE do not contribute to their eligibility. Due to their low research potential, the 13 isolated finds are recommended ineligible for the NRHP. Based on the results of the survey, EPEI recommends that no further archaeological work be undertaken within the APE, and clearance for construction is recommended.