Archaeological Survey and Testing of the Proposed Dublin Bypass Corridor, Project No. EDS-441(5), Laurens County

This archaeological study was conducted as part of planning for the proposed bypass around the city of Dublin in Laurens County, Georgia. The project corridor consists of 8.31 miles of 250 foot wide right-of-way. This report describes the background and archival research, field and laboratory methods, findings of the archaeological survey, and results of archaeological testing. Archaeological survey of the proposed corridor was accomplished in March 1994. Field methods included pedestrian transverse, surface examination, and 30 m interval shovel testing of the project corridor. Seventeen archaeological sites and 10 isolated finds were identified during this survey. One previously recorded site was revisited. Nine sites represent prehistoric activity, seven sites exhibit historic components, and two sites contain mixed prehistoric and historic components. Survey resulted in the recommendation of four prehistoric sites as potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). One historic site, located outside the impact corridor, is of undetermined NRHP eligibility status. The remaining 13 sites and 10 isolated finds are recommended ineligible for the NRHP. Archaeological testing of four sites was conducted in November 1994. Testing was employed to better determine the eligibility status of the four prehistoric sites recommended potentially eligible. Testing field methods included the excavation of 1 by 1 m units. All four sites are recommended ineligible for the NRHP based on testing results. The one historic site of undetermined NRHP eligibility will not be impacted by the proposed project.