Archaeological Reassessment of Projects EDS-545(49)(43), Jefferson, Warren, and McDuffie Counties

The original proposed project would widen and reconstruct SR 17 from the intersection of CR 59/Quaker Road in Jefferson County, ending at CR 311/Wire Road in McDuffie County. Existing right-of-way on SR 17 is approximately 100', with a total of 250' of proposed required right-of-way for the entire length of the project corridor. The original survey was conducted by Southern Research Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc. (Price and Elliot 1999). Current revisions require shifting the corridor from the east to the west side of existing SR 17 from CR 152 to the new end of the project, with the northern terminus now located at CR 149, for a total project length of 16.33 miles. An archaeological survey consistent with the project description was conducted for the entire length of the project corridor. An archaeological survey (Level II) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Division Staff and concurred in by the Federal Highway Administration and State Historic Preservation Officer. These guidelines provide general survey boundaries and methodological approaches to archaeological surveys based on the type/scope of work of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register resources were located within the project's area of potential environmental effect. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will have no effect upon archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.