Phase I Achaeological Survey for Antioch Manor Estates Project, Dekalb County, Georgia

Rick Searles CRT Realty & Development Services Inc., contracted TRC to conduct a Phase I archaeological survey for the first phase of the Antioch Manor Estates project in DeKalb County, Georgia (Figure 1). The development will take place in multiple phases of construction. Only the area impacted by the first phase of construction requires Phase I archaeological survey in order to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. This area is approximately 9 acres as estimated from CRT's project map (Figure 2). However the portion of this study area above the 820 feet above mean sea level (AMSL), 100-year flood level, has recently been graded, thus limiting the field investigations of the project area (Figure 3). A literature search for previously recorded sites within or near the project area was conducted using Georgia Archaeological Site File records. One nearby prehistoric site was identified. The archaeological field investigation included a walk-over and photography of recently graded portions of the tract, and walk-over and shovel testing along the flood plain of the north side of Snapfinger Creek. No evidence of prehistoric sites was found in the project tract. Remnants of agricultural terracing were observed above the northern boundary of the tract as well as between the 1 00-year flood line of Snap finger Creek and the recently graded portion of the tract. These areas were occupied with secondary growth probably not more than 30 years old, suggesting that the whole slope now under development was once terraced and farmed. Based on the results of this survey, it is TRC's recommendation that no further archaeological investigations are warranted for the project tract. This report continues with a discussion of the physical environment in Section II. Section III provides a cultural overview of the project area, while Section IV presents survey methods. Section V discusses the findings of the archaeological survey along with recommendations. This section is followed by References.