Cultural Resources Survey for Macon State College, Bibb County, Georgia

In February 2010, Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc. (hereafter, Southern Research), conducted a Phase One Cultural Resources Survey on approximately 250 acres for Macon State College. This tract is bounded by U.S. So/Eisenhower Parkway on the south, Fulton Mill Road on the west, Columbus Road on the north and Ivey Drive on the east. There are several out partials on the edges of the tract, but for the most part it is a contiguous piece of property (Figure 1). Macon State College is purchasing the property for future expansion. There are no specific development plans available at this time. The Area of Potential Effect (APE) for the purposes of this investigation is the 250 acre tract for archaeology and any historic structures adjacent to the property. The goal of the cultural resources survey was to identify all potentially significant cultural resources within the APE and to evaluate the eligibility of the identified resources for inclusion on the Georgia Register of Historic Places or the National Register of Historic Places. This cultural resources survey was sponsored by the Macon State College, in compliance with the Georgia Environmental Protection Act and the State Agency Historic Property Stewardship Program concerning the management of historic properties (i.e., archaeological sites, buildings, structures, objects, or districts listed on or eligible for the Georgia Register of Historic Places) that may be affected by state funded projects. In particular, this work was conducted using the Guidelines and Standards for Archaeological Survey developed by the Georgia Council of Professional Archaeologists. The work is also compliant with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, and 36 CFR Part Boo should there ever be a need for federal environmental review. Archaeological survey of the 250-acre APE resulted in the identification of five archaeological sites (9BI170 through 9BI174). Archaeological sites 9BI170, 9BI172, 9BI173 and 9BI174 are all heavily disturbed/razed nineteenth to twentieth century farmsteads. All of these resources were evaluated for eligibility for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Survey investigations suggest that sites 9BI170, 9BI172, 9BI173 and 9BI174 are not eligible for the GRHP or the NRHP. They are the remains of small farm houses that have been razed and their remains plowed and scattered. One historic structure 9BI171 is located within the APE. It is an early twentieth century historic dwelling and outbuildings with archaeological deposits. The structure is currently being dismantled and the materials salvaged by the current landowner. This structure is recommended as not eligible for listing on the GRHP or the NRHP. Ten other historic structures are situated outside but adjacent to the APE. They were recorded but not evaluated for National Register eligibility.