Phase I Archaeological Resources Survey of the Proposed Garland Mountain Trails Cherokee County, Georgia

R.S. Webb & Associates conducted a Phase I archeological resources survey of the proposed Garland Mountain Trails in Cherokee County, Georgia, from July 15 through July 28, 2008. The project area includes a trail corridor, approximately 21.6 kilometers (km) (13.5 miles) long and no more than 10 meters (m) (30 feet) wide; and a rest room facility and parking lot [less than 0.4 hectare (ha) ( 1.0 acre)]. The east end of the project corridor is approximately 200 m south of the radio tower at Garland Mountain, and follows an existing jeep trail. The west end of the project corridor is located approximately 3.5 km north of Franklin, Georgia, and approximately 160 m west of US Highway 27. The study was conducted for the Cherokee Recreation & Parks Authority, to locate and identify cultural resources within the survey area, and to assess resource significance based on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria [36CFR Part 60.4 (a-d)]. The Phase I cultural resources survey included a literature review and intensive field survey. During the literature review, state and county records, maps, and documents were examined to determine if previously recorded archeological sites or historic structures are located in or around the project area. The archeological field survey was conducted using surface and subsurface techniques to locate and identify archeological resources within the survey area. Georgia Archaeological Site File: Review of maps at the Georgia Archaeological Site File found that no previously recorded archeological sites are located inside the project boundaries, but that four sites are located within 1.6 km (1 mile) of the project area. National Register of Historic Places and Cherokee County Historic Structures Survey: No NRHP listed/eligible or state-recognized properties are located within 1.6 km of the project area. Archeological Resources Field Survey: One archeological site, a collapsed wooden bridge, was recorded as a result of the field survey. The proposed project will have no effect on this site because this resource is of marginal age (constructed between 1955 and 1960), is destroyed, and is recommended ineligible for the NRHP. No further archeological resources work is recommended for the proposed Garland Mountain Trails project.