An Assessment of Prehistoric and Historic Archaeological Site Potential on the Georgia Tech Campus, Atlanta, Georgia

This report, and the accompanying map, have been created to help identify the most likely areas that could be expected to contain prehistoric and historic archaeological resources on the campus of the Georgia Institute of Technology. The map and the report have been prepared for both Georgia Tech and the architectural firm of Lord-Aeck- Sargent by Mark Swanson of New South Associates. The purpose of the map is to establish high and medium probability areas for archaeological sites within the project area. The purpose of the report is to detail some of the history of this area that could not be shown on the map, and to explain the reasons for the location and status of the selected sensitive areas, which include four high-probability areas and three medium probability areas.

The area under study for this report is comprised of the present Georgia Tech campus, as well as an additional sliver of land located immediately to the southwest. The Tech campus today is essentially bounded to the north by Tenth Street (only a few dormitories are located north of Tenth Street), to the east by the Interstate 75/85 Connector, to the west by Northside Drive, to the southeast by North Avenue, and to the southwest by Tech Parkway. The additional sliver of land included in this study is bounded by Tech Parkway, North Avenue, and Marietta Street. This puts the project area very close to one of Atlanta's major rail arteries, active since before the Civil War. This rail line is located just southwest of Marietta Street and is now part of the CSX Transportation system.

As an initial part of the archival research for this project, a search was made of the recorded prehistoric and historic archaeological sites within the general area, on file at the University of Georgia. This search revealed that no previously recorded sites existed within the project area. Of course, archaeological sites could exist on campus – the site files indicate simply that such sites have not yet been found and recorded. Standing historic buildings associated with the campus have been recorded with the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Division of Natural Resources, but standing architectural features found on campus are not the subject of this report.

The location of potential prehistoric sites is in large measure determined by the location of streams and high ground within the bounds of the campus. More will be said about these features in the discussion of the field check. Alternatively, the location of potential historic sites is often determined by the vagaries of local history, and an encapsulation of this history is presented here, based on an examination of maps and other archival materials on file with the Georgia Tech Archives and the Atlanta History Center. Local history in this corner of the city essentially begins with the Civil War.