Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Ellijay-Roundtop Road 230 kV Tansmission Line and Substation Tract, Gilmer County, Georgia

This report presents the results of an intensive archeological survey conducted by Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. in western Gilmer County, Georgia, where the Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) wishes to construct a 17.07 mi (27.5 km) 230 kV transmission line. Also included in the survey at the southern terminus of the corridor, was a six acre (2.4 ha) tract for a proposed Roundtop Road Substation. The line begins at the existing Ellijay Primary Substation, extends northwest and west for about half its length before turning south and southeast. The corridor ends a short distance south of the community ofRoundtop. A 50-ft (15-m) wide corridor was surveyed for most of the project area but wider corridors (200 and 400 ft) were examined near Carters Lake which was Corps of Engineers property. The wider survey corridor allowed for design changes in the event that significant cultural resources were found near the lake. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate any archeological resources that may be adversely affected by the construction of the transmission line and substation. The survey was undertaken in compliance with Section 1 06 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The area of potential effect for the project consisted of a 50 ft corridor (25 ft on either side of the staked centerline) and the 200 and 400ft wide segments near the Corps property. Staked guy wire anchor locations, which extended outside the corridor, were also checked. Archival research showed a number of historic structures within or very near the project corridor but no previously recorded archaeological sites were present.     The survey was begun on November 30, 2011 and the majority of transmission line corridor was surveyed between November 30, 2011 and April11, 2012. A limited amount of work was conducted on May 22, 2012. A total of 14 sites and 7 artifact occurrences were recorded. As a result of this survey 13 of the 14 archaeological sites and the seven isolated artifact occurrences are recommended ineligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places. The status of one site (9GI217) remains unknown and should be considered potentially eligible for listing. A list of sites and occurrences follows (Table 1 ).     Based on the results of the survey, one potentially eligible site, 9GU17, is considered to have the potential to provide meaningful information on the prehistory of the area. Additional testing would be required to adequately determine eligibility status. The potentially eligible site has been affected by plowing and other forms of historic disturbance such as road construction. The proposed transmission line will traverse the site which should mean that pole installation should not be a source of impact. The tree cover will have to be removed prior to construction of the transmission line but if the site is carefully cleared, there should be no impact to preserved (sub-plowzone) archeological deposits on the site. It is also recommended that the location of the site should be noted on project maps and standard GTC site protection procedures should be followed.     We recommend that because of a lack of integrity and a lack of research potential or associations with persons or events important in local history, the remaining 13 sites and 7 occurrences are not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. We conclude that the project will not adversely affect eligible or potentially eligible archeological resources, provided that standard GTC site protection measures are taken at site 9GU17.