Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Connect Cobb Transit Improvement Project in Cobb and Fulton Counties, Georgia

During August, September, and October of 2013, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed the Connect Cobb project in Cobb and Fulton counties, Georgia. The project corridor is approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) long and runs from the southern terminum in Midtown Atlanta (Fulton County) to its northern terminus in Acworth (Cobb County). The project would include arterial rapid transit service in primarily exclusive bus lanes along United States Highway (US) 41/Cobb Parkway starting in Kennesaw and then running in Interstate (I)-75 High Occupancy Vehicle (HOV) lanes south of Akers Mill Road. The project would also include express bus service in the I-75 managed lanes and HOV lanes from Acworth to the Arts Center Station in Midtown Atlanta. Approximately 20 stations will be located along the corridor. It is anticipated that some additional right-of-way (ROW) beyond the existing ROW limits of US 41/Cobb Parkway will be required for implementation of the proposed project; however, the amounts and locations of this additional ROW have yet to be determined.

There is one alternate associated with the beginning of the project. The alternate alignment begins at the Kennesaw State Station near the intersection of Frey Road and the Skip Spann Connector (currently under construction) and continues in mixed traffic west on Chastain Road/McCollum Parkway until the intersection with US 41/Cobb Parkway. The alignment then turns south on US 41/Cobb Parkway in fixed guideway, and connects to the Locally Preferred Alternative at Barrett Lakes Boulevard.

The recommended transit station locations include Kennesaw State, Town Center, Barrett Lakes Boulevard, McCollum Airport, Chastain Road, Roberts Road, Barrett Parkway, Battlefield, Belles Ferry, WellStar Kennestone, Allgood Road, North Loop/White Water, Big Chicken/Roswell Road, University, Dobbins Air Reserve Base, Windy Hill Road, Cumberland North, Cumberland South, Northside Parkway/Paces Ferry, Howell Mill Road, BeltLine, Millennium Gate, Atlantic Station, and MARTA Arts Center Station. The proposed Barrett Lakes Boulevard, Barrett Parkway, Roberts Road, Chastain Road, and McCollum Airport transit stations are for the alternate alignment only.

The project area corresponds to plans received from Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. in October of 2013. Because of the nature and scope of the undertaking, the area of potential effect (APE) is limited to a 46-meter (150 feet) buffer on either side of the proposed alignment and a 152-meter (500 feet) buffer around each proposed station location. Because this project could involve the creation of lane separations, a number of intersections would be modified. Within the project area, ground-disturbing activities related to construction, such as grading, filling, paving, and infrastructure construction have the potential to adversely affect surface and/or subsurface cultural resources that may be present.

Prior to the commencement of fieldwork, a review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) and Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) database was completed. This search revealed that 89 previously recorded sites are located within 1-kilometer of the project area, 12 of which have been recommended eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). These sites were discovered during the course of 70 archaeological surveys completed over the past 35 years. Of these 12 sites within 1-kilometer of the project area that have been recommended eligible, seven are nineteenth century Civil War sites, three are non-Civil War Historic period sites, and two date to the Precontact era. In addition to these 12 sites, 31 ineligible and 46 previously recorded sites with unknown NRHP eligibility are also located within 1 kilometer of the project area.

EPEI’s Phase I survey resulted in the revisitation of nine previously recorded sites and the discovery of one Isolated Find (IF). Sites 9CO97 and 9CO611 are both lithic scatters dating to an unspecified period of the Precontact era and both are recommended as ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. Sites 9CO125/9CO446 and 9CO613 contain both Precontact and Historic period components. The former of these two sites yielded precontact artifacts dating to the Woodstock phase of the Late Woodland period as well as Historic period artifacts dating to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and most likely associated with a homesite. Site 9CO125/9CO446 is recommended as ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. Site 9CO613 is a lithic scatter dating to an unspecified time during the Precontact era and an artifact scatter that is associated with the Civil War; EPEI recommends this locale as ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. The remaining five previously recorded sites are all characterized by Historic period components. Sites 9CO345 and 9CO555 are both Historic period homesites, with the former dating to the nineteenth century and the latter to the twentieth century. Site 9CO345 was originally recommended eligible for the NRHP and was subjected to both Phase II testing and Phase III data recovery prior to its destruction by highway construction. Site 9CO555 was recommended ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. Site 9CO428 is a trash dump dating to the nineteenth and twentieth centuries that is recommended as of unknown eligibility, with the portion within the project area non-contributing to overall eligibility under Criterion D. Site 9CO502 is an artifact scatter that yielded artifacts dating to an unspecified part of the Historic period that is recommended ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D. Site 9CO535 is a remnant of a Civil War entrenchment that was part of the Brushy Mountain Line, a series of fortifications associated with the Battle of Kennesaw Mountain, during the Atlanta Campaign of 1864. This site was recommended as potentially eligible for the NRHP under Criterion D when originally discovered and EPEI concurs with this finding. The site is situated within the aforementioned buffer area surrounding areas of proposed construction and will not be disturbed or otherwise impacted by construction activities related to the proposed the Connect Cobb project. Although the site will not be impacted by the proposed construction, EPEI recommends the locale be designated as an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) to help minimize the chance for inadvertent disturbance during planning or construction.

Additionally, one Historic period isolate, IF 1, was discovered. This resource extended beyond the project area and could not be delineated fully and is, therefore, of unknown eligibility, with the portion in the project area non-contributing to overall eligibility under Criterion D.