Archaeological Ressessment of Project STP-001-3 (31), Lamar County

In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto, project STP-001-3(31), Lamar County has been surveyed with respect to archaeological resources, especially those on or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The purpose of the survey was to locate, identify and evaluate the significance of any archaeological resources within the proposed project's area of potential environmental effect. Project STP-00 1-3(31) would reconstruct the Southeast Barnesville Bypass onto new location in Lamar County. This proposed project has been subjected to two previous surveys; the first was performed by Rick Richardson in 1998 and the second by Teresa Lotti in February 2002 (HPD#980723-017). Since that time, the project has been changed to include the realignment of a portion of the proposed Southeast Barnesville Bypass where it will intersect with Gordon Road. The shifts would begin 1100 feet south of and terminate 700 feet north of the current alignment for Gordon Road on the proposed Southeast Barnesville Bypass. The proposed right-of-way for the Southeast Barnesville Bypass is 250 feet. The required right-of-way varies asymmetrically with a maximum of 26 feet on the northwest side of the Southeast Barnesville Bypass. An archaeological survey consistent with the proposed project description was conducted along 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 Section 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 proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register archaeological 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.