Intensive Archaeological Resources Survey for the Branch-Bonaire #1 and #2 230 kV Transmission Line Corridor

A Phase I intensive archaeological resources survey was conducted for the Branch-Bonaire #l and #2 230 kV Transmission Line Corridor in Putnam, Baldwin, Jones, Twiggs and Houston counties, Georgia. The project was carried out as part of the Programmatic Agreement (PA) in place between Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) and the Georgia State Department of Natural Resources, Historic Preservation Division (HPD). Though technically due diligence, all activities described herein have been carried out in accordance with the stipulations of Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (per 36 CFR Part 800, as amended through 2004) and by personnel qualified under 36 CFR Part 61. This project is intended to identify and document archaeological resources within the property boundaries, and assess eligibility for inclusion of encountered archaeological resources on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) according to the criteria set forth by 36 CFR Part 63. It does not include an historic structures survey; as that is part of a separate undertaking and/or does not fall within the purview of the PA. The survey was conducted along a length of proposed corridor stretching approximately 88.8 kilometers (km) (55.2 miles [mi]) which extends south from the Plant Branch generating station (Putnam County) to the Bonaire substation in Houston County. It crosses the Ocmulgee River near Warner Robins, Georgia as well as several major creek systems. The survey corridor for these lines is variable; however, the entire project corridor lies within existing power line corridors. This corridor ranges from 53 m (175 feet) with two transmission lines to approximately 170 m (560 ft) with seven various transmission lines near the Bonaire Substation. This corridor was investigated through shovel testing survey at 30-m (l 00-ft) intervals. These were excavated on up to five survey transects also at 30-m (100-ft) intervals running to either side of the project center line. During the survey, Brockington and Associates identified 14 previously unknown archaeological sites (Site 9J0375-6; 9BL268-270; 9HT232-233; 9TW83- 188; and 9PM2079) and seven isolated artifact finds within the project corridor. Most of these finds are small scatters of prehistoric and historic artifacts and all are considered ineligible for the NRHP. During the Phase I survey, Brockington located and assessed the current condition of sites 9TW91, a multicomponent prehistoric lithic and historic artifact scatter, and 9HT133, a historic artifact scatter, relocated within the project corridor. These small, ephemeral sites have been impacted previously by road and utility corridors and are both ineligible for the NRHP. All other known sites in the vicinity fall outside the corridor.