Phase I Terrestrial Archaeological Survey for a Proposed Bridge Replacement Harris County, Georgia County Road 387 at Palmetto Creek

Under contract with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), URS Corporation was tasked to conduct a Phase I Archaeological Survey (Phase I) of a proposed bridge replacement along County Road (CR) 387 at Palmetto Creek in Harris County, Georgia. The limits of disturbance around the proposed bridge and within the proposed right-of-way (ROW) have been defined as the Area of Potential Effect (APE). Properties within and immediately adjacent to the APE include forested wetland areas, a grassy pasture, and a mixed hardwood/pine forest to the northeast, a forested wetland and mixed hardwood/pine forest to the southeast, forested wetlands and a grassy pasture to the northwest, and a forested wetland and mixed hardwood/pine forest to the southwest. The purpose of the Phase I was to investigate the APE, define the nature of any archaeological resources present, and evaluate the resources under the implementing regulations for listing in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) (36 Code of Federal Regulations [CFR] 800).

Initially, reconnaissance surveys were conducted in January and March 2002. These reconnaissance surveys included a systematic pedestrian survey of the APE and adjacent properties at 15-meter intervals with no artifact collection. Features identified included a concrete slab foundation, a steel reinforced concrete pad, a hollow concrete shell, an ornamental tree, two culverts, and a small logging road. Additional artifacts or features were not identified. Also, while the topography can contain steep slopes, a few broad, flat segments suitable for potential prehistoric occupation were observed in the APE. Background research was undertaken along with the initial reconnaissance surveys. A review of existing records at the Georgia Archaeological Site Files in Athens revealed that no archaeological sites had been found within one mile of the proposed project site. However, county histories were consulted at the Georgia State Archives in Atlanta, which revealed that rock walls, piles, and mounds of prehistoric origin have been documented within the county. Comments received from the Harris County Trust for Historic Preservation indicated that Depression-era housing project was overseen by President Roosevelt during his Georgia visits, and that some of these houses were located near the proposed bridge replacement site. No evidence was found of their existence within the project's APE.

Fieldwork for the Phase I was initiated and completed on October 5, 2002. The bridge replacement site was divided into two survey areas, the area to the north of the existing right-of-way (ROW) and the area south of the existing ROW. Both areas were systematically surveyed with shovel test pits (STPs) placed at 30-meter intervals in an east to west orientation. Based on the presence of steep slopes and wetlands over portions of the North and South Areas, STPs were placed judgmentally in the broad, flatter portions of the APE. Steeply sloped areas were examined by means of pedestrian walkovers. In the North Area, four STPs were placed within the APE, but only STP N-4 revealed three small pieces of melted slag. No other STPs were placed in nearby areas since 1) it was apparent that the slag was associated with an occupation within the last 50 years, since 2) the architectural features associated with the occupation are still visible at the surface adjacent to STP N-4, and since 3) it was unlikely that intact prehistoric material would be recovered in the area. The grassy pasture-like surface around N-4 was closely surveyed for artifacts and features. The field crew documented a large concrete slab foundation surrounded at the edges by brick, possibly a veneer. Also, a concrete pad rested atop the concrete foundation, a hollow concrete shell was located nearby the concrete foundation to the north, and an ornamental tree was identified between the foundation and the existing CR 387 ROW. A culvert was identified at the surface near the existing ROW, and likely represents the historic flow of a small stream bed. Its twin is located across the roadway in the southeastern portion of the APE. In the South Area, a STP was placed south of a small logging road in the southeast portion of the APE, but it did not yield any artifacts. The only feature identified in the South Area was the culvert in the old streambed mentioned previously. Two other STPs were placed in the southwestern portion of the APE in a wide floodplain area, but they too returned negative results.

Additional investigations are not recommended, as it is improbable that significant information about prehistory or history could be obtained from subsequent studies due to the very recent nature (last 50 years) of the identified features and recovered artifacts, the absence of prehistoric material at the site, and the apparent lack of intact soil contexts. Despite the site's apparent retention of most aspects of integrity, the lack of significant cultural material recovered from the site is indicative of the absence of a need for additional surveys. The archaeological material recovered from STP N-4 is not eligible for the NRHP since it is not likely to produce significant information in the future based on its recent age and lack of cultural significance.