Intensive Archaeological Survey of 145 Acres in Support of a Proposed Mitigation Bank along Cochrans and Gab Creeks

A Phase I intensive archaeological survey was completed for a proposed mitigation bank along Cochran's and Gab Creeks in Dawson County, Georgia. The project was carried out in compliance with Section 106 (36 CFR 800, as amended 2001) of the National Historic Preservation Act by personnel qualified under 36CFR Part 61. The project parcel is located within the floodplain and terraces of Cochran's and Gab Creeks and their tributaries, between Georgia Highways 136 and 342. The survey area comprises approximately 145 acres. The survey was conducted by Brockington and Associates, Inc. of Jacksonville, Florida, for ACER Environmental, Inc. of Lawrenceville, Georgia. Work planned for the property consists of Priority 1 and Priority 2 stream channel restoration, riparian buffer restoration and enhancement, and wetland restoration. The channel restoration will require some grading including excavating the new channel and filling the old channel. The riparian buffer restoration will involve manually hand planting bare-root hardwood trees. The wetland restoration will include minor grading and planting bare-root hardwood seedlings. During the survey, Brockington and Associates identified a total of eight prehistoric archaeological sites and one isolated find. Of the eight sites located, three of them may be potentially eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historical Places. Five of the sites documented during the field survey were small artifact scatters located in the floodplain and/or terrace of Cochran's and Gab Creeks. These sites produced limited artifact recovery primarily consisting of quartz debitage found in mixed soil conditions. Therefore, it is recommended that the data potential of the archaeological deposits has been exhausted at the Phase I level. As the sites are unlikely to yield information significant to prehistory, they are recommended not eligible for the National Register under Criterion D (data potential). All cultural material was returned to Brockington and Associates' laboratory for analysis. Site 9DW 175 is a moderately dense prehistoric lithic debitage and tool scatter relegated to the surface. The site is located on the first terrace above Gab Creek, just to the north of the confluence of Poverty and Gab Creeks. A representative surface collection was made during field investigations which include Ridge and Valley chert and quartz debitage, three projectile points, and one quartz preform. Based on the density of tools and other artifacts at 9DW175, the site is potentially eligible for the National Register under Criterion D (data potential). It is recommended that if avoidance of the site is not possible, additional archaeological testing may be necessary to assess NRHP eligibility at 9DW 175. 9DW177 is a moderately dense artifact scatter located on a prominent rise within the northern first terrace of Cochran's Creek. Artifacts recovered include sherds, projectile points, chert knife blade, as well as a moderate quantity of chert and quartz debitage. A quartz Mississippian Triangular projectile point was also identified allowing for an Early to Middle Mississippian (1100-1400 AD) temporal association. Based on the potential for further significant findings and relatively intact soils, it is recommended that if avoidance of the site is not possible, additional archaeological testing may be necessary to assess National Register eligibility (Criterion D) at 9DW177. 9DW179 is a moderately dense subsurface artifact scatter located on a slight rise within the terrace of Cochran's Creek. This terrace is linear, running northwest to southeast and is located between Cochran's and Gab Creeks. Artifacts recovered from the site include Curvilinear and Rectilinear Complicated Stamped sherds with a fine to medium sand temper, residual undecorated sherds, and a large quantity of chert and quartz debitage. Based on the potential for further significant findings, relatively intact soils, and the strong possibility for buried deposits at the site, it is recommended that if avoidance of the site is not possible, additional archaeological testing is necessary to assess National Register eligibility (Criterion D) at 9DW179.