Phase I Archaeological Survey of Proposed Revive 1-285 Top End, Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton Counties, Georgia

During June and July 2011, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) completed the Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed Revive Interstate (I)-285 Top End project in Cobb, DeKalb, and Fulton counties (Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT] Project numbers NHS-0001-00[758] and MSL-0003-00[534], P.I. numbers 0001758 and 0003534). The survey was conducted to assist in developing project alternatives for the relief of congestion and delays associated with traffic volumes along the top end of I-285 from Paces Ferry Road (Exit 18) to the Evans Road overpass, a distance of approximately 17 miles (27 kilometers). The study area for the project also includes I-75 from the Chattahoochee River north to Windy Hill Road (Exit 260); a portion of Hammond Drive from Roswell Road to Ashford Dunwoody Road; State Route (SR) 400/United States (U.S.) 19 from the Johnson Ferry Road overpass to the Hammond Drive overpass; and I-85 from 0.75 mile south of I-285 north to the Pleasantdale Road overpass. The area of potential effect (APE) for EPEI’s archaeological survey includes the existing and required right-of-way (ROW), as well as easements. In addition to the APE, a 100-foot buffer, or expanded survey corridor (ESC), was also surveyed, as stipulated by GDOT’s Environmental Procedures Manual. The extent of the ESC and APE will be referred to as the survey or project area. EPEI surveyed the project area through visual inspection and shovel testing.     A review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) at the University of Georgia (UGA), in Athens, and of Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) found 43 projects conducted previously within portions of the project area. The review also found four previously recorded archaeological sites, 9CO89, 9CO345, 9CO346, and 9FU123, located within the project area. Three of these four previously recorded sites were revisited during the current study. Site 9CO89, a prehistoric lithic and ceramic scatter, has been destroyed by residential development in the APE and ESC. Site 9CO345 was the location of a nineteenth century house associated with Akers Mill, which was recommended eligible and subjected to Phase III data recovery investigation prior to the construction of Interstate ramps. The site was destroyed during construction of the ramps. Site 9CO346 is a nineteenth century mill site located in the project area on National Park Service (NPS) property. During pre-project consultation with GDOT, EPEI agreed not to survey NPS land since an Archaeological Resources Protection Act (ARPA) permit would be required. To honor this request, EPEI archaeologists did not enter or survey NPS-administered land, and so did not examine the site, which has been recommended eligible. The location of 9FU123, a prehistoric artifact scatter, was shovel tested in the APE with negative results. The ESC was not surveyed as it is on NPS property as well.     Phase I survey for the proposed Revive I-285 Top End project resulted in the identification of six new sites. Sites 9DA456, 9DA457, and 9FU576 are the archaeological remains of middle twentieth century structures that have been razed. Site 9FU575 is a brick scatter associated with an early to middle twentieth century structure that has been razed. This property has subsequently been commercially developed. Site 9CO727 includes the partial structural remains of a nineteenth century mill complex. Site 9CO728 consists of the partial structural remains of a historic structure of unknown temporal affiliation. Site 9CO728 is located only in the ESC. The other five newly recorded sites have portions in the APE and the ESC.     In total there are 10 archaeological resources within the proposed Revive I-285 Top End project area, 4 previously recorded and 6 newly recorded sites (Table A). The portions of previously recorded 9CO89 and 9CO345 within the project area have been destroyed by development. Site 9CO345 was an eligible site that was mitigated prior to roadway construction and since it no longer is present, this project will have no effect on that resource. Site 9CO89 is of unknown eligibility. Portions of 9CO89 within the survey area have been destroyed by development; however, the portion outside the survey area could not be evaluated. No additional work is recommended for 9CO89 within the current project boundaries. Site 9FU123 was revisited within the APE and no archaeological resources were found; however, it could not be evaluated in the ESC as that portion is on NPS property. The eligibility of 9FU123 should be considered unknown, but non-contributing in the APE. Additional evaluation of the portion in the ESC would be needed and an ARPA permit would need to be obtained should work be conducted beyond the APE. Site 9CO346 is within the APE and ESC on NPS property. EPEI did not survey on NPS property as GDOT requested. However, the site has previously been determined eligible for the NRHP. If avoidance is not possible, then additional work at the site would be necessary.     The newly recorded archaeological sites 9CO727 and 9CO728 are possibly related to nineteenth century milling activities. Due to their potential to provide additional archaeological information, these resources are considered potentially eligible. The possibly contributing portions of these two sites are located in the ESC for the current study and would not be impacted by the project as proposed. If project plans were to change, additional evaluation of these sites would be needed. At this time, overall, 9CO727 and 9CO728 are of unknown eligibility for the NRHP. Sites 9DA456 and 9DA457 are both completely contained in the project area. These two sites are both unlikely to produce additional archaeological data with further investigation and are recommended ineligible for the NRHP. Sites 9FU575 and 9FU576 are found in the ESC and APE for the current project; the former may extend beyond the project boundaries. The portion of 9FU575 within the project area has been heavily disturbed and does not contribute to eligibility; however, since it was not fully defined, it is recommended as of unknown eligibility for the NRHP. EPEI recommends the creation of an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) for 9FU575 to protect the portion of the site extending beyond the APE. Site 9FU576 is located within the APE and ESC. This site was fully defined by shovel testing and landform termination and is recommended ineligible for the NRHP.     The project as currently designed would have an impact on eligible archaeological Site 9CO346. It is recommended that this resource be avoided, or if that is not possible, additional investigations would be necessary. For the remaining portions of the proposed Revive I-285 Top End project APE, there will be no impacts to eligible archaeological resources within the APE. Potentially eligible resources are located in the ESC at Sites 9CO727 and 9CO728. If the project boundaries were expanded in this area, additional evaluation would be necessary for these two resources. Finally, Site 9FU123 in the ESC was not evaluated as it is on NPS property. If plans were altered in that area, additional work may be necessary.