Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Mirror Lake Residential Development, Douglas and Carroll Counties, Georgia

Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted a cultural resources survey of the proposed Mirror Lake residential development, in Douglas and Carroll Counties, Georgia from August 10-18, 1998. The Mirror Lake residential development will include residential lots, an apartment complex, and a commercial center. A golf course is also proposed for this development; however, the portions of the development set aside for golf greens and fairways are being evaluated in a separate survey, which will be documented in a separate report. This project included historical research, archaeological and architectural survey, and site evaluation. These investigations were undertaken to comply with cultural resources legislation (National Historic Preservation Act, 16 USC 4 70, as amended 1992; Section 404 of the Clean Water Act of 1948 [33 USC 1344], as amended), and regulations (36 CFR 800: Protection of Historic Properties; the Regulatory Programs of the US Army Corps of Engineers [33 CFR 325, Appendix C]). Four previously unrecorded archaeological sites and three isolated finds were identified during this survey. All identified resources were evaluated to a level sufficient to allow for recommendations of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Close interval ( 15 m [ 49 ft]) shovel testing was conducted at all sites and in the vicinity of all isolated finds. In addition, two 50 by 50 em (19.7 by 19.7 in) units were excavated at each of the four sites identified. Architectural survey consisted of inspection and evaluation of structural remains identified during the archaeological survey. All cultural resources are recommended ineligible for the NRHP. The project area has been severely impacted by modem day activities. According to historic documentation, the project area has been farmed and logged for decades. Most of the slopes surveyed had been dramatically terraced to facilitate these activities, and the majority of the project area (approximately 80%) exhibited heavily disturbed soils (i.e. churned up clay subsoil mixed with topsoil). Erosion has also had a detrimental impact on the project area, with severe sheet erosion evident on all slopes and subsoil exposed on ridge and knoll tops. These factors have adversely affected the integrity of the cultural resources identified during this survey.