"Phase I Archaeological Survey of

New South Associates conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey of nine intersections surrounding the City of Gainesville in Hall County in response to a request by HNTB Corporation under project number CSSTP-0007-00(353), P.I. No. 0007353, HP #110819-001. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) is in the planning stages of proposed intersection upgrades in Hall County. The work for this survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800), and was intended to determine the presence of significant archaeological resources in the project's area of potential effect (APE). The APE is defined as the existing right-of-way (ROW) for each intersection (approximately 1 ac.). An additional 30 meters (100 ft.) was also tested for the Expanded Survey Corridor (ESC) as required by GDOT in the Environmental Procedures Manual. The survey included shovel testing at each intersection to address both the APE and the ESC. The following is a list of intersections included in the current survey. One archaeological resource was identified as a result of the current survey. A cemetery (9HL586) was identified at the intersection of SR60/Thompson Bridge Road and SR 283/Mount Vernon Road (Intersection 3). The cemetery is located in the northwestern quadrant of the Corinth Baptist Church property; is roughly 1.8 acres in size; and contains approximately 400 graves. The cemetery is surrounded on all sides by a modern chain-link fence, which is considered the formal boundary. No graves appear to be within the APE, but approximately 48 individuals (13 family plots) fall within the ESC. Based on the archaeological survey, it appears that the eligibility status of the Corinth Baptist Church Cemetery must be considered unknown under Criterion D for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) as the potential for archaeological research exists, but no subsurface excavations have been conducted to confirm the level of preservation. Therefore, New South recommends that the cemetery should be avoided during the planned intersection improvements. While the potential for unmarked graves in the existing ROW is low, if groundbreaking is to occur, extreme caution should be used and an archaeological monitor should be present to identify potentially unmarked graves that could be present closer to the intersection. An Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) was established, and a letter was provided to GDOT and project engineers. Commercial and residential development at the remaining eight intersections has disturbed most areas. No archaeological sites were identified at Intersections 1, 2, and 4-9. No further work is necessary to satisfy Section 106 requirements and the planned undertaking may proceed.