Third Addendum to Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Widening of Panola Road and Associated Intersection Improvements, Dekalb County, Georgia

In October2015, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a third addendum Phase I archaeological survey and GPR survey for the proposed Panola Road improvements project, in DeKalb County, Georgia (Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT} Project No. CSSTP-0006-00(879), P.I. No. 0006879, HP No. 070117-002). The project was put on hold following the 2015 fieldwork to allow for changes to the project design due to an alignment shift. Fieldwork for the additional changes to the project were conducted in September, 2016. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate archaeological resources within the area of potential effect (APE) of the proposed undertaking so that potential effects to identified cultural resources could be evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.

The project is located in DeKalb County along Panola Road between Browns Mill Road/SR 212 to just south of Fairington Road/Minola Drive. The proposed improvements project would be approximately 2.1 miles long, and consist of widening to add a center two-way turn lane, 4-foot bike lanes, 5-foot sidewalks, and a 6-foot grassed buffer strip on each side of the road. The existing ROW for P.I. No. 0006879 ranges from approximately 60 feet to 100 feet wide. The proposed ROW width along the segment would vary from 60 to 120 feet.

Prior to the commencement of fieldwork, a search of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) and Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historical Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) online database was made for previously recorded sites within 1 kilometer (.62 mile) of the bridge survey area. There are five previously recorded archaeological sites located within 1 kilometer of the survey area, including the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery, 9DA468, which was revisited during the current third addendum survey. These include the previous surveys for the Panola Road improvements for which this report is an addendum. These sites and investigations are discussed in detail in Chapter II of this report.

No new archaeological sites were identified during the third addendum Phase I survey. Site 9DA468, the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery, was revisited due to a change in the site boundary since the site was initially recorded. A 2012 survey plat was obtained that indicates that a portion of the cemetery extends into existing ROW for Panola Road. The Macedonia Baptist Church is one of the oldest congregations in DeKalb County, and the cemetery dates from the 1830s to the present. As a historical resource, the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery was recommended eligible for the NRHP under Criteria A and C (EPEI 2007). Because there has been no subsurface investigation, the NRHP recommendation for data potential under Criterion D is unknown. A GPR survey was conducted along the existing ROW between Panola Road and the Macedonia Baptist Church Cemetery to eliminate uncertainty about the site boundary by determining the potential for unmarked burials below the surface in the ROW adjacent to the cemetery. No anomalies suggesting unmarked interments were identified in the area surveyed between Panola Road and the cemetery. Because of the close proximity of the cemetery to the construction limits for the project, it is recommended that an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) be established for the cemetery. The ESA boundary should be clearly marked on all construction activities were planned. No additional archaeological work is recommended for the project as currently designed.