Archaeological Assessment of Project FR-065-3(37), Hall County

The project proposes to widen SR 53/Dawsonville Highway from 1300 feet west of CR 248 to Lake Ranch Court, where it will tie into a bridge and roadway project presently under construction. Total project length is 2.1 miles. Existing right-of-way is 120 feet; proposed right-of-way would vary from 200 to 300 feet. An archaeological survey consistent with the proposed project corridor, exclusive of U.S. Government property, was conducted. Telephone conversations with Dottie Gibbens, Staff Archaeologist, US Army Corps of Engineers, Mobile District, indicate a previous cultural resource survey on the Federally-owned government land failed to locate any significant cultural resources. The archaeological survey (Level II) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHVA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Section Staff and concurred with 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 proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register sites are located within the project's area of potential environmental effect. It is concluded, therefore, that the project would not affect archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.