Phase 1 Archaeological Survey for Improvements to Buford Highway, Gwinnett and Hall Counties, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Transportation proposes to widen and construct intersection improvements along Buford Highway (GA 13), northeast of Buford, Georgia. These upgrades will extend from Sawnee Avenue up to the intersection with Friendship Road (GA 347). 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 23 and 26 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 Archaeological Site File in Athens, the University of Georgia Library and Special Collections in Athens, and resources maintained at the offices of Ground Truth Research in Decatur. The project area is located along Buford Highway between Sawnee Avenue and Friendship Road (GA 347) just northeast of Buford, Georgia. The proposed development consists of widening a 2.62 km (1.63 mile) length of the existing Buford Highway and to rework major intersections along the corridor. These intersections include Sawnee Avenue, City Hall Street, Roy Carlson Boulevard, and Friendship Road. In addition to the widening of Buford Highway, approximately 0.32 km (0.2 mile) of Thunder Road will be relocated. The junction with Holiday Road and Ledford Road will also be reworked. The total linear distance of all corridor modifications is 3.64 km (2.26 miles). While the proposed right-of-way ranges between 30 to 44 m (100 to 145 feet) wide along Buford Highway and the right-of-way along the side streets ranges from 26 to 32 m (84 to 105 feet) wide, the survey corridor will be 55 m (180 feet) along Buford Highway and 38 m (125 feet) on the side streets. The area of potential effect for this study will be confined to these survey corridors. Primary impacts for the construction of these roadways are expected to be restricted to this area. The area of potential effect (APE) 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 29 shovel tests were excavated within the primary impact areas. This survey identified a single archaeological site (9HL527), representing the remains of a historic house site. No significant archaeological resources were discovered within the area of potential effect for the proposed roadway construction. The portion of site 9HL527 within the APE does not appear to contribute to the potential for the site's eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. 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.