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Addendum to the Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Proposed SR 52 at SR 183 Roundabout in Dawson County, Georgia

Author(s)
Report Number
9755
Year of Publication
2016
County
Abstract

The purpose of this project is to replace the existing State Route (SR) 52 and SR 183 intersection with a roundabout roughly 130 feet (40 meters) in diameter. The existing intersection consists of three approaching legs with a grassy median in the middle. SR 183 approaches from the south and SR 52 approaches from the northwest and the northeast in two legs due to a curve in the roadway at the intersection location. Traffic at the intersection is currently controlled by stop signs. Both SR 52 and SR 183 are classified as two-lane rural major collectors and each of the three approaching legs will remain as two-lane major collectors. Currently there is a 72-foot long, 9-foot by 6-foot triple barrel box culvert under SR 52 where it crosses over Little Amicalola Creek. The project will require the extension of the triple box culvert and additional right-of-way (ROW) for construction varying between 30 and 85 feet. Originally, the layout of an environmental survey area, which was intended to incorporate all possible design alternatives within its boundaries, was provided to the GDOT Office of Environmental Services (OES), rather than a specific proposed project design. This layout was used to conduct the original Phase I archaeological survey for the project in November 2015. The environmental survey area for the proposed project formed an almost “Y” shape with the SR 183 and SR 52 intersection at its center. It was oriented northwest-southeast (Figures 1 and 2). Crossing over SR 183, the southeastern boundary of the survey area spanned approximately 650 feet (198 m). The southwest boundary spanned approximately 956 feet (291 meters). The northwest boundary crossed the western leg of SR 52 and spanned approximately 381 feet (116 meters), while the northeast boundary crossed the eastern leg of SR 52 and spanned 464 feet (141 meters). The eastern boundary spanned roughly 914 feet (279 meters). The environmental survey area served as the APE for the original shovel test survey for the project conducted on November 23, 2015. During the 2015 survey, one site, 9DW273, consisting of a historic artifact scatter, was identified in the northwest portion of the APE. The site could not be fully delineated within the APE and therefore has unknown NRHP eligibility. Since the original 2015 survey, a design for the project has been developed with limits that extend roughly 100 feet (30 meters) beyond the northwest boundary of the environmental survey area along SR 52, roughly 50 feet (15 meters) beyond the northeast boundary of the environmental survey area along SR 52, and roughly 30 feet (10 meters) beyond the southern boundary along SR 183. This addendum survey provides an archaeological assessment for these three additional areas.