Archaeological Survey of the Proposed State Route 30/U.S. 280 Improvement Corridor, Sumter

In December 1998, Brockington and Associates conducted an intensive archaeological survey of the proposed SR 30/US 280 (SR 30) improvement corridor in Sumter County, Georgia. The survey was conducted for Greenhorne and O'Mara, Inc., in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended 1992). The SR 30 improvement corridor is approximately 3.4 kilometers (2.1 miles) long and 67 meters (220 feet) wide.

The scope of the project included background research, archaeological field survey, and ‑evaluation of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility of archaeological resources within the project corridor. Background research was conducted at the Georgia State Archaeological Site Files in Athens. The purpose of the background research was to identify any previously recorded archaeological sites within 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mile) of the project corridor. Archaeological field survey consisted of systematic shovel testing every 30 meters (100 feet) along both sides of SR 30.

Background research identified 18 previously recorded archaeological sites within 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mile) of the project corridor. These sites are located beneath the waters of Lake Blackshear and will not be affected by the proposed SR 30 improvements. Examination of several historic maps of the project area identified no potentially historic resources in the project corridor.

Archaeological field survey identified one archaeological site (9SU129) and one isolated find in the corridor. Site 9SU129 is a subsurface scatter of prehistoric artifacts with no cultural features, no horizontal or vertical integrity, light artifact density, and no chronological data. Site 9SU129 supplies no significant information and no further work is recommended at this location. The isolated find, a chert biface and a chert flake, is also recommended ineligible for the NRHP.