Archaeological Survey of the Proposed 115 kV Cusseta Transmission Line and a 6.9-Acre 115/25 kV Substation Chattahoochee and Stewart Counties, Georgia

Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc., conducted an intensive archaeological survey of approximately 7.6 miles of proposed 115 kV transmission line corridor and a proposed 6.9 acre 115/25kV substation site in southern Chattahoochee and northern Stewart Counties, Georgia. The proposed substation site is located in Chattahoochee County, west and immediately adjacent to US280 approximately 1,540 feet southeast of the intersection of US28o and US27A/GA1. The proposed transmission line begins at the northwest corner of the substation site and cuts across land directly west 0.18 miles to US27ALT/GA, and thence follows the highway south 7.42 miles to an existing transmission line. Archaeologists identified one previously unidentified archaeological site (9SW229) within the proposed transmission line corridor during these investigations. In addition, five previously recorded sites (9CE31, 9CE298, 9CE299, 9CE431, and 9CE1923) are located in or very near the proposed transmission line corridor. These previously recorded sites were documented as part of the environmental impact survey for the widening of US27A/GA1, and were subsequently destroyed by the road construction project. This fact was visually confirmed during the current investigations, with each site location observed as being heavily graded/excavated to sterile red clay (in some cases several meters below previous ground surface). Despite surface visual inspection and shovel tests excavated at 15 meter intervals at their reported locations, no cultural materials were encountered at any of these locations. Given their disturbed/ destroyed nature, the current project will not have any effect on the five previously recorded archaeological sites. Site 9SW229 is a scatter of late nineteenth to early twentieth century domestic artifacts located on southern end of the transmission line corridor. Shovel tests excavated at the site suggest that top soils are shallow (0-15 em below surface), and the site has been severely impacted by grading and erosion associated with the recent widening of US27A/GA1, and silvicultural activities associated with Mead Paper operations. Given its extremely poor state of preservation, this site has little research value beyond the survey identification level. It is our opinion that additional investigation at this site would not yield any new, valuable, or significant archeological or anthropological information. For these reasons, site 9SW229 is recommended not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Further management consideration of the proposed Cusseta 115 kV transmission line and 115/25 kV substation in regard to cultural resources is not warranted.