Addendum to Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Turner Hill Road Improvements, DeKalb County, Georgia

On May 24, 2012, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted an addendum Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed Turner Hill Road Improvements (Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT] Project No. STP-0006-00[891], P.I. No. 0006891) in DeKalb County, Georgia. The project would result in a four-lane, divided highway with curb and gutter, sidewalks, lighting (both street and pedestrian), landscaping, and a 10 foot multi-use trail along the eastern shoulder. The total project length (including intersection improvements and associated tapers) is approximately 1.93 miles and would be designed to meet a 35 mile-per-hour (mph) design speed. The total project length differs from the 1.11-mile length cited in the initial concept report because the initial concept report assumed the Hayden Quarry Road extension (STP-0006-00[888] & STP-0006-00[931]) would widen Turner Hill Road from Mall Parkway to Hayden Quarry Road and would realign the intersection approaches at Hayden Quarry Road and Turner Hill Road. With the delay of the Hayden Quarry Road extension, the Turner Hill Road widening project would widen Turner Hill Road from Mall Parkway and would improve the intersection approaches at Hayden Quarry Road and Mall Parkway, thus increasing the total project length by .82 mile. The intersection of Rockland Road and McDaniel Mill Road would be realigned with 90 degree intersection angles to meet the 35 mph design speed.

The typical section for the proposed project would consist of two 12 foot wide travel lanes in each direction separated by a 24 foot wide raised grass median. The shoulders would be 16 feet wide on the west side, containing curb and gutter with a 5 foot wide sidewalk and a 2 foot wide grass strip. The shoulders would be 22 feet wide on the east side, containing curb and gutter with a 10 foot wide multi-use trail and a 3 foot wide grass strip. Trees are proposed in the median and behind the sidewalk/multi-use trail on each side of the roadway. Street and pedestrian scale lighting are proposed along the shoulders, and also behind the sidewalk/multi-use trail. The proposed right-of-way (ROW) width would be 110 feet. The current ROW width is 80 feet along the existing corridor.

Changes to the original project plans whereby areas not covered by previous archaeological survey were added to the overall project design resulted in the need for this additional survey. These design changes include an increase in project length, the addition of construction and driveway easements, revisions to tie-ins of intersecting roadways, and slight modifications to the required ROW. The areas of additional survey were located along the length of the project area for a combined area of 5.70 acres. Driveway and construction easements consist of .48 acres and areas of additional required ROW and tie-in modification total 2.41 acres. The remaining 2.81 acres of additional project area are in existing ROW. An expanded survey corridor was not examined for this project.

A review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File at the University of Georgia in Athens, and of Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System showed that 50 previously identified sites have been recorded within a 1-kilometer radius of the project area. Seven of these sites, 9DA325, 9DA326, 9DA329, 9DA333, and 9DA437-9DA439, are located within the original boundaries of the Turner Hill Road Improvements project area. Two of the previously identified sites, 9DA325 and 9DA326, are located within the addendum survey areas for the current project. There have been nine previous surveys conducted within a 1-kilometer radius of the project area. Three of these projects include portions within the current project area.

The additional Phase I survey for the Turner Hill Road improvements project resulted in the identification of one new archaeological site, 9DA462. Site 9DA462 consists of a historic well and one positive shovel test. A review of aerial photography and maps for DeKalb County indicate that a structure was situated at this location as early as 1914. Aerial photographs also indicate that the structure was razed between 1972 and 1978. Due to the severe erosion of topsoil in the vicinity and the scarcity of artifacts recovered, the portion of the site identified by EPEI is recommended as non-contributing to its eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion D. The overall eligibility of the site, however, is unknown as it has not been fully defined beyond the project boundary.

The two previously recorded sites revisited during the current project, 9DA325 and 9DA326, were both identified as historic house sites when first recorded in 1988. Site 9DA325 also contained a non-diagnostic pre-contact component. Both locations have been destroyed by development within the project area, and no evidence for either site was encountered during the current project. The sites were recommended ineligible when first recorded, and lacking any new evidence to contradict that recommendation, EPEI concurs with the original assessment.

No further archaeological investigations within the project area are recommended. Should the design of the proposed project change, additional archaeological work may be necessary.