Archaeological Site Delineation and Limited Testing at Nine Sites on the Eastman-N. Dublin 230kV Transmission Line GTC Project No. P85823 (WA #12)

In June 2011, Southern Research, Historic Preservation Consultants, Inc. (hereafter Southern Research), conducted site delineation and limited testing of nine archaeological sites, 9LS290, 9LS294, 9LS296, 9LS298, 9LS299, 9LS304, 9LS305, 9LS306, and 9LS308, within the existing Eastman-North Dublin 230 kV transmission line corridor in Laurens County, Georgia. These nine sites had a National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) status of ‘unknown.' The purpose of this additional work was to clarify the NRHP eligibility of these nine archaeological sites prior to maintenance work on the transmission line corridor. Archaeologists visited each site and excavated additional shovel tests at 15 m intervals, with particular attention given to the area within a 100 ft radius around each tower. Sites 9LS290, 9LS294, 9LS296, 9LS305, and 9LS306 are recommended not eligible for listing on the NRHP for one or more of the following reasons: site is expressed primarily in the plow zone, site is disturbed, no diagnostic artifacts, and low artifact density (Table 1). These sites do not warrant further management consideration within the existing Right-of-Way (ROW). However, it should be noted that these sites likely extend outside of the existing ROW and only the portion of these sites within the ROW was investigated. Sites 9LS298, 9LS299, 9LS304, and 9LS308 appear to contain moderately to deeply buried deposits of prehistoric cultural material. These sites are recommended potentially eligible for listing on the NRHP. However, it should be noted that site 9LS298 should not require monitoring during transmission line maintenance because the significant portion of the site is over 100 ft from the tower. The remaining three sites, 9LS299, 9LS304, and 9LS308, will require monitoring during maintenance activities.