Research Design for the Proposed Phase I/II Archaeological and Metal Detector Survey of SR 92 in the Vicinity of Pickett's MIll Battlefield, Cobb and Paulding Counties, Georgia

The following research design outlines Edwards‑Pitman Environmental, Inc.=s (EPEI=s) proposed study approach for a battlefield archaeological survey of an area of Cobb and Paulding counties, Georgia. The study corridor is a proposed Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) highway widening and reconstruction project (GDOT Project No. CSSTP‑0007‑00[692], P.I. No. 0007692) of State Route (SR) 92/Hiram‑Acworth Highway from SR 120/Marietta Highway to County Road (CR) 473/Cedarcrest Road. The following research design describes methods and goals for a Reconnaissance Survey and a combined Phase I/II archaeological and metal detector survey of the project corridor in the vicinity of Pickett=s Mill Battlefield (from Cedarcrest Road to Holland Road) (Figure 1). Throughout this document, the combined area of potential effect (APE) and expanded survey corridor (ESC) will be referred to as the project area. GDOT archaeologists have recognized that the proposed project may impact important archaeological deposits associated with Civil War activity in this part of Paulding County.

The proposed project would consist of the widening and reconstruction of the SR 92/Hiram‑Acworth Highway, from its intersection with SR 120/Marietta Highway to its intersection with CR 473/Cedarcrest Road intersection. Currently, SR 92 consists of two 12 foot travel lanes with a 20 foot raised median and 16 foot urban shoulders on either side of the roadway. Existing right‑of-way (ROW) varies from 80 to 100 feet.

An existing cultural property, the Pickett=s Mill Battlefield is currently listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and the project area extends through the park boundary, as presently defined. It is important to understand that Pickett=s Mill Battlefield is recognized in different ways by different agencies and individuals; a fact that is described in greater detail below. The boundary of the NRHP nominated area is not congruent with the park boundary, administered by the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Insofar as the distribution of artifacts related to the battle has not been defined fully, the archaeological limits of the battlefield are not linked to the NRHP nominated portion or to that administered by the DNR. Because of the incomplete understanding of the archaeological record as it pertains to the Battle of Pickett=s Mill, military action associated with this battle and the archaeological remains thereof may extend into the project area.