A Cultural Resources Assessment of the Proposed Buford Highway Bridge and Entryway, CDC Campus Chamblee, Georgia

A cultural resources assessment of the proposed location of the Buford Highway a bridge and entryway to the Center for Disease Control (CDC) Campus, Chamblee, Georgia, examined trench and earthworks in the project right-of-way. The objective of this study was to determine if these trenches were historic and to assess their National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility. Three sections of trenches were examined, all of which are located on either side of the Arrow Creek flood plain. The trench section on the north side of the creek, nearest the CDC complex, was determined to be a modern feature probably related to CDC construction activities. Two trenches on the south side of the creek were determined to be historic and related and were recorded as archaeological site 9DA423. Shovel testing as well as metal detector survey failed to identify any artifacts associated with the trenches which could be used to determine their age. Given their location and appearance, the trenches appear to have served military functions and hence likely date to either the Civil War or World War I (WWI) . While no recorded civil War battles took place on the property, it is located along the general route of Sherman's advance on Atlanta and hence these trenches could reflect defensive works which were begun by the Confederates but never completed or use. The trenches could also have been built as training features during WWI when this area was occupied by Department of the Army's Camp Gordon. Historic records report training for trench warfare at Camp Gordon, although there is no record of specific training activities on this particular site. Regardless of their age, the trenches are not considered to be eligible for nomination to the NRHP and no further treatment of them is required for compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act.