Cultural Resource Investigation: Colonial Pipeline Company, Products Pipeline River Crossing, Flint River

A two-member SSI archaeology team began the survey of the Clayton County temporary workspace on July 22, 1976. Precise workspace boundaries were field located by a representative of the Colonial Pipeline Company, and the precise survey area was delineated. The Clayton County temporary workspace consisted of an area that paralleled the Flint River for 200 feet and penetrated the interior for 300 feet to form a rectangle. Thesurvey area was restricted mainly to the floodplain, but did extend 15 to 20 feet onto the upland slope. The floodplain was low and marshy along the river and extended approximately 280 feet from the River's edge. The upland slope began abruptly at that point, resulting in a steep bank approximately 15 feet high. The only distinguishing feature within the workspace was a ravine or deeply entrenched road bed which was located approximately 275 feet east of the river and trended eastward out of the work space area. The workspace was covered with vegetation composed of mixed hardwoods, including oak, gum, and hickory. Surface visibility was poor within the area, except for the presence of occasional tree falls. A combination of surface and subsurface survey techniques were used to determine the extent, if any, of cultural resources present. Despite the complex depositional history which was evident from the subsurface investigation, no evidence of cultural resources was found. The survey techniques and the results achieved will be discussed in detail in Chapter IV. The Fayette County temporary workspace was investigated by the survey team on July 22, 1976, and by the survey team and the principal investigator on July 23. The precise boundaries of the workspace were similarly delineated by a representative of the Colonial Pipeline Company, and the route of the pipeline as it continued from the workspace was determined through consulting maps and aerial photographs, as well as by locating extant survey markers on the ground. The Fayette County temporary workspace was mainly confined to a marshy area along the Flint River. A slightly higher terrace began about 250 feet from the River and was incorporated into one edge of the workspace. A small creek traversed the workspace near the interior edge of the area. An electrical transmission line tower was located within the marshy area of the workspace. Investigation of this workspace indicated that it contains a portion of a large archaeological site. That site, and the techniques used to survey the workspace, will be disucssed in detail in Chapter IV.