The Georgia Department of Transportation proposes improvements to State Route (SR) 52 in Hall County (Project STP00-1238-00[007], PI Number 132250). The project would entail realigning the roadway to a new location east of existing road, replacing the bridge crossing at the Chattahoochee River with a new structure, and adding passing lanes. New South Associates, Inc. conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey of the proposed project corridor, which covered approximately 27.6 hectares (68.1 ac.). The archaeological survey involved background research, fieldwork, and artifact analysis. A historic structures survey for this project was completed separately.
Most of the project corridor covered extremely sloping ridge flanks. Level, well-drained locations were usually substantially eroded. The Chattahoochee River terraces in the corridor consisted of historic alluvial deposits.
The survey identified one archaeological site, 9HL553, consisting of a prehistoric artifact scatter of indeterminate function and chronology. This site has a low potential to provide useful data about regional prehistory. It has low artifact counts, lacks diagnostic items, and reflects brief occupations that probably did not generate extensive cultural deposits and features. Any further investigation of this site would probably yield redundant information. Site 9HL553 thus does not possess qualities of archaeological significance and is recommended not eligible for the National Register of Historic Places. Based on this, it is our recommendation that the proposed project would have no effect on significant archaeological resources.
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