Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Bonaire Segment of the Project

This report presents the findings of the Phase I Archaeological Survey of the West Segment of the expansion and realignment of SR 96 in the vicinity of the City of Bonaire, Houston County, Georgia (P.I. No. 322450). The survey corridor consisted of five miles beginning east of Old Hawkinsville and terminating west of Bonaire. This project is the third of a series of investigations conducted by New South Associates, Inc associated with the expansion and realignment of SR 96. Initially the current segment was part of a study (P.I. No. 322460) that started along SR 96, west of SR 87, and ended at the western limit of the current study area totaling approximately seven miles. However, due to changes in scope the portion near Bonaire was segregated into a separate project. An earlier Phase I survey of SR 96 between SR 87 and a point north of the Interstate 20 interchange was also conducted prior to the current study. Background research concerning all three Phase I surveys as conducted prior to initializing fieldwork in a three project areas along SR 96. The area surveyed consisted of a corridor of new road right-of-way that including associated access ramps and spurs (Figure 1). The survey began along SR 96, 1,500 feet east of the intersection of Old Hawkinsville, Thompson Mill roads, and SR 96 and concluded approximately 0.2 miles west of the intersection of SR 96 and Old Perry Road, totaling approximately five miles. The required right-of-way (ROW) featured a maximum width of approximately 45 meters (160 feet). Along Old Hawkinsville Road, where the survey corridor overlapped existing roadway, both sides of the road were examined with a survey transect, while the remaining portions of the corridor were investigated with a single survey transect oriented along its centerline. A total of 241 shovel test pits were investigated at a 30-meter (100-foot) interval along the corridor. The Phase I survey resulted in the reexamination of one previously identified archaeological site, the identification of one new site, and the documentation of one isolated artifact find. All of the finds are recommended not eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and no further archaeological investigation of this corridor is recommended.