A Cultural Resource Survey of Proposed Geotechnical Locations at the Cole City Creek Reservoir Alternative Dade County, Georgia

A Cultural Resources Survey of the proposed Pumped Storage Hydroelectric Site C3-6 (Cole City Creek Project) was conducted on December 3 and 10, 1984 by Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. The work was undertaken so that cultural resources could be located and identified in areas that would be impacted by soil borings, rock borings, auger holes, and geotechnical test pits. Staff archeologists Lisa O'Steen and Jerald Ledbetter conducted the fieldwork under the general supervision of W. Dean Wood, principal investigator. Prior to the field survey, the state archeological site and manuscript files at the Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia, were consulted for references to sites and past projects in the survey area. No sites had been recorded within the project area. Thirteen, 100 foot diameter boring sites within the proposed reservoir site were surveyed. The archeological survey methods consisted of surface reconnaissance and shovel testing. Drill sites with disturbed and/or exposed ground surface areas were inspected, then shovel tests were excavated to determine soil stratigraphy. Boring sites with little or no surface exposure were surveyed by excavating a series of 1/4" screened shovel tests. These tests were placed at the center stake of the 100 foot diameter boring sites. other shovel tests were placed around the perimeter of the 100 foot circles at cardinal directions from the center stake. Field survey data were recorded on 1 inch=2000 feet topographic maps provided by Oglethorpe Power Corporation. A single cultural resource was encountered at boring site #10. It consisted of a terraced historic house foundation that is shown on the topographic map provided. As long as core boring is restricted to within a 50 foot diameter of the center stake there should be no adverse affect to this resource. If this is not possible then the #10 boring site should be shifted 50 feet to the north, south, or east. The proposed boring will have no adverse effect on cultural resources if Oglethorpe Power Corporation follows the above recommendations at boring site #10. If the Cole City Creek alternative is selected, an intensive archeological assessment survey should be conducted prior to any land disturbing activities.