Archaeological and Botanical Survey Ciry of Sparta Proposed Water Supply Improvements Hancock County, Georgia

The objective of this project was to conduct an archaeological and botanical survey of the areas to be impacted by the construction of the proposed raw water transmission main for Sparta, Georgia, under the provisions of an authorization prepared on April 13, 1977. The background research and the archaeological and botanical survey were conducted by the undersigned. Field work was initiated on August 2 and completed on August 4. The survey area is located west-southwest of Sparta in the western part of Hancock county. The survey tract consisted of 8.2 kilometers, 5.0 miles), of raw water transmission main and a water intake facility located at the confluence of Lake Sinclair and Shoulderbone Creek. The transmission main construction easements were l2 meters (40 feet) wide (figure 1). The survey corridor was divided into three segments: A, B, and C. Segments A and B followed existing road right-of-way while segment C followed a forested ridge top. The project contract required that a literature and record search be conducted in order to determine the nature and extent of known historical and archaeological resources in the project vicinity. This background research was conducted at the Archaeology Laboratory Site Records Office at Georgia State University. The results of this research will be reported in detail in Chapter II. The methodology employed during the survey was designed to meet the various conditions found in the study area. A complete description of the methodologies employed and the results achieved will be presented in Chapter II. Eight archaeological sites were found, either within or close to the proposed easement project. Each site will be completely described in Chapter II, and recommendations concerning the sites will be presented in Chapter IV. The botanical survey was designed to inventory and evaluate the flora located within and adjacent to the proposal construction easements. Emphasis was also placed on the identification of endangered, threatened or unusual plant species. Chapter III presents the survey in detail, while Chapter IV assesses the primary impacts of the proposed project on the botanical resources. A partial species list is included in Appendix D. This list includes only those species which were identified during the botanical survey and is not a complete list of the flora in Hancock County.