Archeological Survey of the Villa Rica-Boatrock and Villa Rica-West Marietta 230 kV Transmission Lines Douglas, Paulding, Cobb and Fulton Counties, Georgia

In August and September of 2012, Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. (SAS) conducted Phase I archeological surveys of approximately 60 km (37 mi) of the existing Villa Rica -Boatrock 230 kV transmission line and the Villa Rica - West Marietta 230 kV transmission line. Each line is approximately 30 km (19 mi) long. Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) wishes to upgrade the transmission line structures (towers) on these lines. The area of potential effect (APE) for the proposed upgrading is focused at each structure along the transmission lines, where GTC will replace guy wire anchors and improve structure supports. A total of 207 structures are on the two transmission lines. Each of these structures was visited on the archeological survey. Additionally, the archeological investigation targeted high probability areas between transmission line towers, those being well-drained landforms adjacent to large streams and rivers. The transmission lines begin at the Villa Rica primary substation, paralleling one another for about 13 km (8 mi) before they split. The Villa Rica - Boatrock transmission line then angles to the southeast, crosses the Chattahoochee River, and terminates in Fulton County, while the Villa Rica - West Marietta line continues on to the northeast, terminating in Cobb County at the West Marietta substation. Much of the transmission lines traverse a hilly Piedmont landscape, wooded along the western portions, while the remainder is heavily residential. Surface exposure was patchy within the transmission line corridors. Consequently, the survey relied on systematic shovel testing at each tower location and on high probability landforms adjacent to streams and rivers. Typically, four shovel tests were excavated at each transmission line tower, with each shovel test placed near the guy wire locations for that tower. Two or three shovel tests were excavated across the width of the project corridor on high probability landforms. Once a site was detected, additional shovel tests were excavated at 10-m intervals to determine site size along the project corridor. We recorded 16 new archeological sites and two archeological occurrences on the two transmission lines (Table 1). Seven of the 16 sites are prehistoric lithic scatters, three are prehistoric lithic and ceramic scatters, one is a prehistoric quartz quarry, and three date to the nineteenth or twentieth centuries. One of the latter is a nineteenth century grist mill (Alexanders Mill) which is adjacent to (outside of) the APE/survey corridor. Prehistoric components include unidentified lithic, Early Archaic, and Mississippian (Etowah and Lamar) periods. We recommend that three of the sites are potentially eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) (Table 1). The three sites, 9DO181, 9DO182, and 9CO739. are medium to large prehistoric lithic and ceramic scatters (possibly villages), located on or near Sweetwater Creek. Site 9CO739 is located on the Villa Rica - West Marietta transmission line. There will be no impact to this site because access around the area will occur on an existing road and the transmission line structure located on the site does not have any guys/anchors to be replaced. Sites 9DO181 and 9DO182 are located on either side of Structure 99 on the Villa Rica - Boatrock transmission line. Access across site 9DO181 will be done on mats to avoid impacts to the site. Replacement of the guys and anchors has the potential to impact both of these archeological sites. However, in a technical assistance meeting for a similar project held between GTC and the Historic Preservation Division (April 6, 2011), it was concluded that structural repairs will have no effect to significant archeological sites if: 1. GTC's contractors will perform their work during dry weather. 2. Archeologists will be present at the sites while all construction work is being performed. 3. Prior to the removal of the existing ground anchors by GTC contractors, archeologists will excavate and screen the ground anchor excavation area. 4. Archeologists will monitor the contractors as they "screw-in" the new ground anchors. 5. GTC will add the sites to their Annual Archeological Site Monitoring Program. If these procedures are followed on the sites in question, upgrades to the transmission line towers should be allowed to proceed.