Phase I Archaeological Survey of SR 253 at Spring Creek, Decatur County, Georgia

Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) intends to replace the Spring Creek Bridge on State Road 253 in Decatur County (PI 0011683). New South Associates, Inc. and SEARCH, Inc., under contract with Atkins, completed terrestrial and submerged archaeological resource surveys of the project=s Area of Potential Effect (APE). The work complied with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800), and was intended to identify significant archaeological sites in the project=s archaeological APE.

The proposed undertaking would place a new bridge north of the existing structure and rebuild the roadway approaches to accommodate the new location. The total length of the project measures 2,525 feet. Construction will take place in new right‑of‑way (ROW) and easements. New ROW, having a maximum width of 75 feet, would be only on the north side of the existing road and measure 1,325 feet long between Stations 111+25 and 124+50. Construction easements measuring 20‑50 feet wide will extend from the east and west termini of the new ROW on the north side of the road, with an additional easement measuring 30 feet wide on the south side between Stations 124+00 and 128+00. The archaeological APE included the new ROW and construction easements, which contained roughly 5.21 acres. As per GDOT=s Environmental Procedures Manual, an Expanded Survey Corridor (ESC) was also surveyed.

The project involved background research, terrestrial and underwater archaeological fieldwork, and analysis. Based on the background research, the project area was judged to have a high potential for Precontact archaeological resources, especially related to the Early and Middle Archaic periods, as well as moderate to high potential for historic archaeological resources. The survey identified two archaeological sites and one Precontact isolated find consisting of a single waste flake. In addition, the extant Spring Creek Dam (built 1919) was inspected.

Site 9DR237 consists of a Precontact artifact scatter of indeterminate chronology and function. The site was identified in the ESC at the eastern terminus of the project corridor and no portion of it was inside the APE. Its boundaries extend an undetermined distance outside the ESC and its overall eligibility is unknown. However, the portion of the site in the ESC lacks significant archaeological data potential. The proposed undertaking would have no effect on this site because it lies outside the APE. Nevertheless, due to its undetermined eligibility, establishment of an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) is recommended.

Site 9DR238 reflects remnants of a 1910s‑1920s bridge over Spring Creek. Remaining elements of the bridge include two poured‑cement abutments and a cement‑slab bridge on the approach road. The site lies within the APE and ESC. It was evaluated with respect to all four National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria and recommended to lack qualities of significance. Consequently, the undertaking would have no effect on this site and no further preservation of it is recommended to satisfy Section 106 requirements.