A Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed City of Jefferson Wastewater Treatment Facility, Jefferson, Georgia

A cultural resources survey of the proposed 30.5 ha (75 ac) City of Jefferson wastewater treatment facility located seven archeological sites. Four of the sites are prehistoric low density lithic artifact scatters. One prehistoric site is a higher density lithic and ceramic artifact scatter. The two other sites are 20th century historic artifact scatters associated with domestic structures that have been razed. However, at one of these sites, 9Jk37, a barn that was associated with the house remains standing. The sites were evaluated for eligibility to the National Register of Historic Places according to Criterion D, which deals with whether the site has yielded or is likely to yield information important in prehistory or history (36CFR60.6). Six of the archeological sites are recommended ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. These six sites are characterized by low density artifact scatters. They have been disturbed through agriculture (plowing and terracing) and erosion, and are not likely to contribute significantly more data than has already been gathered by this survey. One site (9Jk32) is recommended as indeterminable in regard to nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a 120 by 60 m ceramic and lithic bearing site on a low ridge overlooking Opposum Creek swamp. The site dates mostly to the Late Archaic and Middle to Late Woodland periods. Insufficient data was collected from this site to make a firm determination of eligibility and further testing would be required for this determination. Blueline maps of the proposed construction layout, provided by Precision Planning Inc., the City's consulting engineering firm for the project, show that 9Jk32 will not be impacted by the proposed construction. The maps show that all construction related activities near 9Jk32 will be restricted to the areas in pasture, and that the wooded area that contains the site will not be affected. If the City of Jefferson can guarantee that the wooded area west of the pasture in the southwest portion of the property will be avoided and protected, then the site is not in any danger of disturbance from the construction of the proposed wastewater treatment facility and no further work is needed. We recommend that the City avoid and protect 9A32 by insuring that present design plans, which show no impacts to the site, are followed. The City should guarantee this avoidance and protection to the Historic Preservation Section. If the City is unable to guarantee the protection of the wooded area where the site is located then a testing program should be implemented to determine its eligibility.' This would involve the excavation of more shovel tests and approximately ten 2 x 2 m test units. If, following this testing, the site is determined to be eligible for nomination to the National Register, further work would be necessary to mitigate the loss of information from the site. It is the opinion of the principal investigator that if the above recommendations are followed, no potentially eligible cultural resources will be impacted by the proposed City of Jefferson wastewater treatment facility, and that, in regard to cultural resources, the project should be given clearance to proceed.