Phase I Archaeological Surveys of Areas Chosen For Brush Clearing At Northwest Georgia Branch Experiment Station, Gordon County, Georgia.

On 2 August 1996 Dave Davis of this office conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of three areas chosen for brush clearing within the Northwest Georgia Branch Experiment Station, Gordon County, Georgia. He was assisted in locating project areas by Mr. Philip Worley, Superintendent of the Experiment Station. The purpose of the surveys was to assess archaeological resources which might be impacted by proposed clearing activities of the project areas briefly outlined below. The first of the project areas is located along Nesbitt Loop on the northern edge of the property (See Attached Map #1). This area, measuring 1207 meters (three-quarters mile) long and fifteen meters (50 feet) wide, must be cleared of timber so that underground telephone lines can be buried in the ground adjacent to Nesbitt Loop. The second project area, somewhat centrally located on Experiment Station property and situated within the floodplain of the Coosawattee River, is 450 meters (1500 feet) long and 5 meters (16 feet) wide and lies perpendicular to the river (See Attached Map #1). It is planned that the existing fence-row of trees presently covering the area be cut and removed so that controlled experiments with grass growth can be conducted in the area. The third project area, surveyed on 15 August 1996 by Dave Davis and Jonathan Bentley of the Office of the State Archaeologist, consists of approximately six acres situated west of the first project area on the western portion of the bluff (See Attached Map #1). This area, previously timbered by the former landowner, currently supports a thick vegetative growth of immature pine, oak, cedar and sweetgum trees. The experiment station wishes to thin the vegetative growth so that cattle will not gather in this area.