Phase I Archaeological Survey Addendum SR 2/US 76 Over Hightower Creek Bridge Replacement

During March 2011, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey for the proposed improvements to the State Route (SR) 2/United States (US) 76 bridge over Hightower Creek in Towns County, Georgia ( GDOT Project BR000-0000-00 [303], Towns County; PI#: 0000303; HP 010525- 005). This survey was conducted as an addendum to the original survey performed by EPEI in 2006 (Regnier 2007). Approximately 0.49 miles of linear corridor were surveyed by EPEI (Figure 1.1). During the current undertaking, one previously unidentified site, 9T0291, was discovered (Table I. Project Summary Table). The project was conducted for the Georgia Department of Transportation ( GDOT) under a contract with TranSystems. However, as per the stipulations of their contract, EPEI only produced a management summary for the March 2011 survey (Blackwelder 2011). In November and December of 2011, Atkins, Inc., with Brockington and Associates, Inc. as a subcontractor, produced the Phase I Archaeological Survey report for the 2011 EPEI survey. The proposed project would replace the existing SR 2/US 76 bridge over Hightower Creek. The proposed bridge would be constructed approximately 50 feet ( 15.25 m) north of the existing bridge, centerline to centerline. The proposed bridge would be approximately 175 feet (53.3 m) long and 40 feet (12.2 m) wide with two 12-foot (3.66 m) travel lanes and eight-foot (2.44 m) shoulders. The proposed SR 2/US 76 would contain two 12-foot (3.66 m) travel lanes with 10-foot wide graded shoulders (6.5 feet paved). The proposed right-of-way (ROW) would vary from 100 feet (30.5 m) to 160 feet (48.8 m). The proposed project would make improvements to the intersection of SR 2/US 76 at Upper Hightower Road due to the realignment of SR 2/US 76 to the north. The proposed Upper Hightower Road would contain two 11-foot (3.35 m) travel lanes and variable width grassed shoulders. The proposed ROW would be approximately 60 feet (18.3 m). In total, the proposed project would require approximately 3.69 acres ( 1.49 ha) of ROW and 0.37 of an acre (0.14 ha) of temporary easement. During construction, traffic would be maintained on the existing bridge while the new bridge is constructed. The traffic would then be shifted to the new bridge and the existing bridge would be removed. The total project length would be approximately 2,550 feet (0.49 mile [0.78 km]). The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate archaeological sites within the Area of Potential Effects (APE) of the proposed undertaking, so that potential effects to any resources identified could be evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. For this project, the APE consists of the existing and proposed project ROW and proposed. construction easements within which all grounddisturbing activity would be confined. Additionally, an extended survey corridor (ESC) was investigated 100 feet ( 30.5 m) beyond all proposed APE limits per current GDOT guidelines. Portions of the current project area were surveyed during the EPEI investigation of 2006; however, the need for an ESC required additional shovel testing along the entire length of the project in addition to areas of newly required ROW or easement. The Phase I Archaeological Survey Addendum consisted of both background research and field survey. Background research was conducted at the Georgia Archaeological Site File in Athens. This data set is also available online through the Georgia Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS). In addition, background research was conducted at the University of Georgia Map Library in Athens. Background research revealed that there are no previously recorded sites within the project APE or the ESC. However, there is one previously recorded site located within one mile of the project corridor, 9T067. Site 9T067 was recorded in 1982 as a historic house site and was recommended ineligible for the NRHP (see Figure 4.1). During the March 2011 field survey, 12 shovel tests were excavated east of Hightower Creek along SR 2, and 21 shovel tests were excavated west of Hightower Creek along Upper Hightower Road. Shovel tests were not excavated in wet or disturbed locations or in areas known to have been previously surveyed by EPEI. During the course of the survey, one previously unrecorded archaeological site, 9T0291, was identified (see Figure 1.2). The site consists of a light and compact prehistoric lithic and ceramic scatter located in the high stream portions of the northern extent of the project area. The site is completely defined in the present APE and site boundaries are approximately 15-by-10 meters (49.2-by-32 ft). Two positive shovel tests were excavated in the site area. Artifacts were recovered at depths ranging from 0-60 centimeters (0-23.6 in) below surface (cmbs) within a moderately compact clayey loam soil matrix. No areas of microstratigraphy or potential buried surfaces were identified, and no diagnostic artifacts or distinct artifact concentrations were identified to indicate further research potential in this portion of the site. In addition, the site boundaries have been fully defined within the APE and it is unlikely that further investigation would yield significant archaeological information. Based on these findings, 9T0291 is recommended ineligible for the NRHP. No additional archaeological investigations.