Phase I Archaeological Survey of SR 166 Widening and Bowden Bypass, Carroll County, Georgia

From September 30 to November 7, 2014, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed State Route (SR) 166 Widening and Bowdon Bypass projects in Carroll County, Georgia (Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT] P.I. Nos. 631300 and 631310; and HP No. 061017-001). The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate archaeological resources within the area of potential effect (APE) and a 100 foot expanded survey corridor (ESC) of the proposed undertaking so that potential effects to identified cultural resources could be evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The survey area for the project consists of the combined APE and ESC for the project. The project limits of P.I. No. 631310 would begin west of Bowdon along existing SR 166, extend north of Bowdon on new location, and then rejoin and widen along the existing SR 166 to County Route (CR) 828/Farmer’s High Road for a distance of approximately 6.1 miles. The proposed two lane SR 166 Bowdon Bypass would begin east of Big Indian Creek, extend north to intersect with Lovvorn Road, then head east to intersect with SR 100, and continue east until tying into West Jonesville Road for a distance of 2.4 miles. The proposed SR 166 Bowdon Bypass project would then widen the existing West Jonesville Road alignment until intersecting with existing SR 166 for a distance of approximately .9 miles. At that point, the widening/reconstruction of existing SR 166 from two to four lanes would extend from West Jonesville Road to CR 828 for a distance of 2.8 miles. Existing right-of way (ROW) along West Jonesville Road and SR 166 varies from 80-150 feet. Maximum required ROW to be acquired for P.I. No. 631310 varies from 100-150 feet. P.I. No. 631300 consists of the proposed widening/reconstruction along the existing SR 166 corridor from CR 828/Farmer’s High Road eastward until the intersection of Maple Street. At this point the widening/reconstruction would continue along the existing SR 166 South Carrollton Bypass where it would terminate at the four lane section west of CR 11/Hays Mill Road, for a distance of approximately 5.5 miles. Existing ROW varies from 80-340 feet. Maximum required ROW to be acquired for P.I. 631300 is 150 feet. The total distance of both projects will consist of approximately 11.6 miles. Prior to the commencement of fieldwork, a search of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) and Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) online database was made for previously recorded sites within 1 kilometer (.62 mile) of the project area. Eighteen previously recorded archaeological sites were identified by this review. Five of the 18 previously recorded sites, 9CL64, 9CL65, 9CL67, 9CL74, and 9CL84, have portions within the current survey area for the SR 166 Widening project. Six projects have been previously conducted that have portions within the survey area. The previously recorded sites within 1 kilometer and the previous surveys are discussed in detail in Chapter II of this report. The Phase I survey for the SR 166 Widening and Bowdon Bypass project resulted in the identification of seven new archaeological sites, 9CL424-9CL430, and one isolated find (IF), and also revisited the five previously recorded archaeological sites with portions in the survey area. Table 0.1 summarizes the archaeological resources within the survey area, including site type, cultural affiliation, National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility recommendations, and location within the APE and/or ESC. In addition to the archaeological resources within the survey area, the Antioch Baptist Church cemetery, located in the project viewshed approximately 15 meters south of the survey area, was recorded as archaeological site 9CL431, in accordance with GDOT guidelines. A site form was completed for the cemetery, but no other archaeological work was conducted. Detailed discussion of all of these resources is presented in Chapter IV of this report. No new artifacts were recovered during revisits to 9CL64, 9CL65, 9CL67, and 9CL74, and field revisits found that the portions of these sites within the survey area have been destroyed. The original NRHP recommendation for these four sites was ineligible, and since no additional data was identified those recommendations remain unchanged. One feature, a well, was identified, and two twentieth century artifacts were recovered during the revisit of 9CL84. Twentieth century artifacts were recovered from 9CL424, 9CL425, and 9CL427-9CL430. One twentieth century feature, a railroad track segment, was recorded at 9CL426 but no associated artifacts were recovered. Sites 9CL84, 9CL424, 9CL425, and 9CL428 could not be completely delineated within the survey area; however, these four sites do not have the potential to yield information significant to the historic culture history of the region. For these reasons, the portions of 9CL84, 9CL424, 9CL425, and 9CL428 in the survey area lack significant data potential, and therefore, there will be no adverse effect to the sites. Because the sites cannot be conclusively delineated beyond the project boundary, the overall NRHP eligibility recommendation for 9CL84, 9CL424, 9CL425, and 9CL428 is unknown. Sites 9CL426, 9CL427, 9CL429, and 9CL430 were completely delineated within the survey area. These four sites do not have the potential to yield information significant to the historic culture history of the region, and thus there will be no adverse effect to the sites. Sites 9CL426, 9CL427, 9CL429, and 9CL430 are recommended ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. IF 1 consists of a Late Archaic stemmed projectile point base. IF 1 does not meet the established criteria for an archaeological site, and thus is of limited research potential. The proposed project will have no adverse effect on archaeological resources eligible for the NRHP, and therefore it is recommended that the project continue as currently designed. No further archaeological work is recommended for the SR 166 Widening and Bowdon Bypass projects. If the project design should change to include areas not covered by the current survey, then additional Phase I archaeological survey would be necessary. It is recommended that an environmentally sensitive area (ESA) be established along the APE boundary for the length of the archaeological sites within the survey area with an unknown recommendation to protect the deposits in the ESC, and potential deposits that may lie outside the survey area boundaries.