Phase I Archaeological Survey for Thomson West Bypass, McDuffie County, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Transportation proposes to construct a bypass for the city of Thomson, Georgia. The new roadway is northwest of the city and is to extend between Three Points Road and US 78 near the Thomson-McDuffie County Airport. Since at least some of these areas appeared to have the potential for reasonably undisturbed environments, a cultural resources survey was required. This report documents the design and results of this archaeological survey. It is intended to be in accordance with the requirements of and the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended in 1980 and 1992, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974, the Georgia Environmental Policy Act of 1991, and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. Between 8 and 13 January 2009, personnel from Ground Truth Research conducted a survey for archaeological resources in the areas intended to be impacted by road construction. The fieldwork was preceded by a literature review of documents housed at the Georgia State Site Files in Athens, the University of Georgia Library and Special Collections in Athens, the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources in Atlanta, and resources maintained at the offices of Ground Truth Research in Decatur. The project area consists of a new corridor located between Three Points Road and Washington Road (US 78, GA 10, GA 17) 7.2 km (4.5 miles) northwest of the center of Thomson, Georgia. The total length of the new roadway plus tie-ins to existing roadways is 5.5 km (3.4 miles). While the proposed right-of-way will range from 30 to 37 m (100 to 120 feet) wide, the survey corridor will be 46 m (150 feet) wide. Primary impacts for the construction of the roadway and extension should be restricted to this corridor. The area of potential effect for archaeological resources is restricted to the area to be directly impacted by road construction. Indirect and cumulative impacts are beyond the scope of this project. All areas within the existing and proposed right-of-way were examined by means of testing and surface examination. Available surface exposures were examined and subsurface tests were excavated when these exposures were insufficient. A total of 158 shovel tests were excavated within the primary impact areas. This survey identified two archaeological sites (a prehistoric activity area and a historic house site) and seven isolated finds. No significant archaeological resources were discovered within the area of potential effect for the proposed roadway construction. Neither of the identified sites retain the integrity to be eligible under any criterion for a National Register property. As isolates are deemed ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places by definition, it is recommended that no further work should be required and it is further recommended that the proposed undertaking as described above be permitted to proceed.