Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Bridge Replacement on State Route 200 over Ichawaynochaway Creek, Baker County, Georgia

In April 2013, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed bridge replacement on State Route (SR) 200 in Baker County, Georgia (Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT] P.I. No. 0007153). The proposed project would consist of the replacement of the existing SR 200 bridge over Ichawaynochaway Creek. The total length of the surveyed area of potential effect (APE) and expanded survey corridor (ESC) is 3,500 feet, which includes the 400 foot long bridge. Existing right-of-way (ROW) ranges from 100 to 200 feet. Proposed ROW requirements have not been determined yet. During scoping of the project, GDOT wanted the special studies done before making any commitments on a layout for the project, to avoid or minimize impacts to any resources found. The project limits measure 200 feet on either side of the existing road centerline, beginning 1,600 feet from the west end of the existing bridge to 1,500 feet from the east end of the existing bridge. Consulting engineering firm McGee Partners, Inc. (MPI) retained EPEI to conduct Phase I investigations in order to locate and evaluate archaeological resources within the project area, defined herein as the APE and the 100- foot ESC.

Prior to the commencement of fieldwork, a review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens indicated that a total of 32 sites have been recorded within a 1-kilometer radius of the project area. The sites with available site forms include: 9BX12, 9BX36, 9BX37, 9BX38, 9BX39, 9BX40, 9BX41, 9BX135, and 9BX136. Additional information for these sites appears in Chapter 2. The remaining 23 site forms are reported by GASF as “still in the process of being finished, and having incomplete site forms.” However, GASF was able to produce a detailed topographic location map for these sites. Two of the total of 32 sites, 9BX136 and 9BX301, were documented within both the APE and ESC for the project. The remaining sites appear to lie between 150 to 850 meters outside the ESC. EPEI’s current survey resulted in revisits to previously recorded sites 9BX136 and 9BX301, and the discovery of one isolated find (IF), IF 1. Findings at these sites are summarized below.

EPEI’s revisit to 9BX136 recorded it as a small multicomponent, precontact lithic scatter located on both sides of SR 200 overlooking Ichawaynochaway Creek. Site 9BX136 also contains a late nineteenth to early twentieth century grave site near its northern boundary. The site has fully defined boundaries within the project area, and nine positive shovel tests yielded a total of 34 artifacts, including 25 precontact and nine historic artifacts. One heavily patinated Kirk-like projectile point was recovered from the surface, dating the site to the Early Archaic period. The historic artifacts appear to be modern and most likely represent recent roadside debris. During EPEI’s survey, a single burial was documented within the project area. Presently, no construction is planned within the limits of the interment portion of 9BX136 and this project will not directly impact it; the land that the cemetery is located on would be encroached upon by the 100-foot ESC only. However, due to the presence of the burial, the site is recommended as of unknown eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion D. No additional ROW or easements are required on this portion of the property. Due to the unknown eligibility of 9BX136, an environmentally sensitive area (ESA) designation is recommended surrounding the grave site in order to protect the burial.

EPEI’s revisit to 9BX301 encountered a precontact lithic scatter. This lithic scatter was initially documented during James Waggoner’s (2009) Ph.D. dissertation work, which focused on huntergatherer use of the Dougherty Plain. According to the limited information offered by GASF, Waggoner encountered only surface evidence of the site; however, Waggoner recommended the site eligible for the NRHP. The results of EPEI’s latest examination of 9BX301 illustrate a site whose boundaries extend across SR 200. The site measures 170 meters by 150 meters within the project area; however, the full extent of the site was not investigated beyond the ESC. Thirty-three positive shovel tests yielded a total of 72 artifacts. However, only four of the positive shovel tests, less than 15 percent, produced more than three flakes per location, and a total of 16 positive shovel tests contained no more than a single artifact. Based on the data collected during EPEI’s survey, the portion of the site within the project area does not contribute to its eligibility under Criterion D and no further archaeological work is recommended. However, since the boundary of the site has not been firmly established beyond the limits of the ESC, the NRHP eligibility for 9BX301 should remain as unknown. No further archaeological work is recommended at this location. Due to the unknown eligibility of 9BX301, an ESA designation is recommended following the site boundary at the extent of the ESC in order to protect the site.