Archaeological Reassessment of Project EDS-441(38), Wilkinson County HP 960522-001

In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto, and the Georgia Environmental Policy Act of 1991, Project EDS-441(38) in Wilkinson 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 resource within the proposed project's area of potential environmental effect. GDOT project EDS-441 (38) Wilkinson County consists of the widening and reconstruction of US 441 from an existing two lane road into a four lane road. Brockington and Associates, Inc. originally surveyed the project for archaeology between 1995 and 1996. Since that time, three alignment shifts for history resources have been added to project EDS-441 (3 8). Shift 1, located just north of Nickles ville, would move the alignment to the east side of US 441 for approximately 2000 feet and would require a maximum of 230 feet of additional required right-of way. Shift 2 begins near CR 107/Payne Cemetery Road and would move the alignment to the east side of US 441 for approximately 3300 feet, requiring a maximum of 460 feet of additional required right-of-way. Shift 3 is located just north of CR 109/Payne Cemetery Road and would move the alignment to the west side of US 441 for approximately 3300 feet, requiring a maximum of 280 feet of additional required right-of-way. Sixteen sediment basins which would require approximately 100 feet of temporary easement have also been added to project EDS--441 (38). The current survey covers the 3 alignment shifts and 16 sediment basins on EDS-441(38). An archaeological survey (Level m was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Arch Preservation Division 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 work of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register resources were located within the recently revised 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.