In June, November, and December of 2013, URS Corporation conducted Phase I archaeological investigations in support of the proposed Pleasant Hill Neighborhood streetscape and proposed Jefferson Long Park projects, which are associated with Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) projects NHIM0‑0016‑01(092), NHIM0‑0016‑01(131), NHIM0‑0075‑ 02(177), and NH000‑0016‑01(104), P.I. Nos. 311000, 311005, 311400, and 311410 (collectively referred to as the Interstate [I]‑16/I‑75 Interchange Improvement project). This project is located within the City of Macon, Bibb County, Georgia. The proposed activities would consist of streetscape modifications and improvements (e.g., resurfacing, sidewalks, landscaping, new curb installation, and street lighting), historic structure relocation, and the development of a community park (e.g. sidewalk construction, lawn and tree landscaping, terracing, and fountain and statue installation) within the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) listed Pleasant Hill Historic District. This survey is required as part of the on‑going effort to mitigate impacts to the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood. Tasks under this investigation consisted of background research, pedestrian inspection, and systematic shovel testing.
The Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the surveyed project limits included the existing right‑of‑way (ROW) along the approximately 3.17‑mile proposed streetscape corridor as well as the footprint of the proposed Jefferson Long Park area. The existing ROW varies in width across the total length of the proposed streetscape corridor. In some areas, along Pursley Street for example, the existing ROW corridor is as small as 40 feet (20 ft from the centerline), while in other portions of the streetscape corridor, such as along Walnut Street, the existing ROW corridor can reach 60 ft in width (30 ft from the centerline). The investigation was conducted within existing ROW of the proposed corridor and within the 2.71‑acre footprint of Jefferson Long Park.
The Phase I survey of the APE consisted of a thorough pedestrian survey and regular interval shovel testing. A total of 309 shovel tests and 123 no dig loci were recorded during survey of the APE. The survey resulted in the identification of one Isolated Find (IF), and one new archaeological site.
Site 9BI179 is a historic domestic occupation dating from the late 19th to the early 21st century and consists of an artifact scatter resulting from the demolition of at least 29 separate housing structures. Shovel testing within the site resulted in 68 positive shovel test excavations and 380 artifacts recovered. No subsurface features were identified.
Site 9BI179 was evaluated under Criterion D of the NRHP, which states an archaeological site may be eligible for the National Register if it yields, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history. Specifically, site 9BI179 was evaluated for its potential to contribute new and valuable research data to our existing knowledge of late 19th to mid‑20th century urban lifeway patterns. The recovered data indicates that the portion of 9BI179 which is located within the project APE does not maintain sufficient integrity to be considered eligible for the NRHP. The results of the survey indicate that site 9BI179 contains two superimposed components (historic and modern) that have been mixed to the extent that separate artifact assemblages cannot be reconstructed. Historic lifeway patterns of the late 19th to mid‑20th century inhabitants of Macon, as shown through an artifact assemblage, cannot be contextually parsed from later 20th and 21st century material. In addition, the information obtained through further investigation/excavation of partially intact driveways, retaining walls etc. at 9BI179 is not likely to contribute anything new or substantive to our current understanding of the lifeway patterns of late 19th to mid‑20th century Macon citizens. In effect, the information to be gained from further research would not be considered important enough to merit NRHP consideration. While shovel testing did reveal artifacts, no well‑defined or significant concentrations of artifacts, such as middens, were noted. Furthermore, shovel testing did not locate any subsurface features, such as privies or cisterns, which could have informed our present understanding of historic urban land use and occupation patterns.
Due to the disturbed nature of the site and lack of intact deposits, site 9BI179 is recommended ineligible under Criterion D. URS recommends cultural resource clearance of the Pleasant Hill Neighborhood streetscape corridor and Jefferson Long Park APE.
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