Phase I of Archaeological Survey of the Proposed US 78/SR 10 Widening and the US 78 Crawford/Lexington Bypass and Phase II Archaeological Testing of Eight Sites, Clarke and Oglethorpe Counties, Georgia

From August 2008 to September 2010, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted archaeological survey and testing for the proposed United States (US) 78/Stats Route (SR) 10 Widening from Whit Davis Road (Clarke and Oglethorpe counties, Georgia; Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) Project STP00-0014-01(069), P.I. 132660) and the US 78 Crawford/Lexington Bypass project (Oglethorpe County, Georgia; GDOT Project STP00-0014-01(067), P.I. 231910). The US 78/SR 10 widening project consists of the widening and improvement of US 78/SR 10 from Whit Davis Road/County Road (CR) 166 to Smokey Road/CR 26 in Clarke and Oglethorpe counties, for a total length of approximately 8.3 miles. The eastern terminus of this project proposes to construct a new location four-lane roadway to the south of Lexington and Crawford in Oglethorpe County, Georgia. The project begins at Smokey Road/CR 26 and ends just east of SR 22, where the corridor merges with the existing SR 10/US 78 alignment. The total length of the bypass project is approximately 7.1 miles. EPEI conducted the original survey work for the alignments during August through December of 2008. Following consultation with GDOT, EPEI completed Phase II archaeological testing at eight sites along the proposed bypass corridor. These sites are: 9OG551-554, 9OG557-559, and 9OG561. Later, in September 20120, EPEI conducted additional Phase I survey for the proposed US 78/SR 10 Crawford/Lexington bypass in Oglethorpe County. The survey was completed in response to minor changes to the proposed bypass alignment and included the examination of eight segments of additional right-of-way (ROW) adjacent to the original proposed ROW, which had been surveyed in 2008. The total length of the eight segments of additional survey was 5,379 meters and included proposed roadway, construction limits, and a 25-foot buffer. All of the survey and testing work was conducted under a contract with Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. Research at the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) in Athens indicated that eight previously recorded sites, 9CA33, 9CA111, 9CA112, 9CA114, 9OG16, and 9OG27-9OG29, are in or near the proposed Area of Potential Effect (APE). These locations were revisited during the present study. Five of these sites, 9CA111, 9CA112, 9CA114, 9OG27, and 9OG28, were not relocated during field survey, indicating they are either outside the current APE or have been destroyed. In addition to the three previously identified sites relocated within the APE, 9CA33, 9OG16, and 9OG29, the survey of the project corridor resulted in the identification of 15 previously unrecorded sites, 9CA176, 9CA177, and 9OG551-9OG563, and 10 isolated finds. Additional Phase I survey resulted in the expansion of the boundary of one site identified during the original Phase I survey, 9OG559, and in the identification of two additional sites, 9OG590 and 9OG591, and two isolated finds. Following the Phase I survey, 9OG555, 9OG556, 9OG562, and 9OG563, and the 12 isolated finds were recommended ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Previously recorded sites 9CA111, 9CA112, 9CA114, 9OG27, and 9OG28 were not located during the field survey, indicating that they are either outside the current APE or have been destroyed. Fieldwork indicated that the portions of 9CA176, 9CA177, 9OG16, 9OG29, 0OG560, 9OG590, and 9OG591 in the APE would not contribute to their NRHP eligibility. Therefore, clearance for construction is recommended in the APE for these sites, although their eligibility recommendation must remain unknown as their full extent has not been determined. Nine sites, 9CA33, 9OG551-9OG554, 9OG557-9OG559, and 9OG561, were recommended potentially eligible for the NRHP. Survey data indicated these sites may have the potential to yield important archaeological data. Phase II archaeological testing was recommended at 9CA33, 9OG551-9OG554, 9OG557-9OG559, and 9OG561, to clarify the NRHP eligibility of the portions of these sites withing the APE. Following the consultation with GDOT, and the preparation of a testing plan including the completion of a geophysical survey, additional shovel testing, backhoe stripping, and test unit excavation, Phase II archaeological testing was undertaken at the sites recommended potentially eligible along the proposed bypass potion of the project, which included 9OG551-9OG554, 9OG557-9OG559, and 9OG561. The proposed project was redesigned to avoid 9CA33 and Phase II testing was not undertaken at that site. Based on the results of this work, EPEI recommended that the portions of 9OG552, 9OG553, and 9OG559 in the APE were non-contributing for the NRHP due to disturbed and eroded soils and low research potential. Overall, however, the eligibility of theses sites is unknown as their boundaries have not fully been defines. No additional work is required at these sites and clearance for construction is recommended. Site boundaries for 9OG551, 9OG554, 9OG557, 9OG558, and 9OG561 have not been completely defined as they extend beyond the APE. However, portions of each of these sites in the APE did contain significant intact deposits with relatively high artifact recovery, and should be considered eligible for the NRHP. Accordingly, EPEI recommended the project be redesigned to avoid these five sites. If avoidance is not a viable option, EPEI recommends additional work at these sites to mitigate their destruction by the proposed construction project.