Addendum to the Archaeological Survey of the Proposed State Route 44 Improvements Project, Putnam and Greene Counties, Georgia

In March 2012, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted an addendum to the Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed State Route (SR) 44 improvements project in Putnam County, Georgia (Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT] Project Numbers CSSTP-0006-00[252] and [253], P.I. Nos. 0006252 and 0006253, and H.P. No. 061103-006). This survey was conducted as a preferred alternate beginning for SR 44 at a new intersection with United States (US) 441/ SR 24, approximately 1.1 miles north of the intersection of US 441/SR 24 and Reids Road. The current survey followed an approximate 2.3 mile linear corridor of new location from the new intersection at US 441/SR 24 to the intersection of SR 44 and Dance Road. This preferred alternate intersection connects with the prior survey region along SR 44 associated with the 2009 project in Putnam and Greene counties. This addendum project is located in Putnam County only.

The entire project will be divided into two parts: Part 1 will begin at US 441 and continue to Alexander Road, and Part 2 will begin at Alexander Road in Putnam County and extend to Linger Longer Road in Greene County. The project consists of widening SR 44 from the existing two-lane road to a four-lane road with both rural and urban sections. The rural section, which includes a 32 foot depressed median, starts at the beginning of the project at US 441/SR 24 in Putnam County and continues to mile log 19.9. SR 44 will be on new location from US 441/SR 24 to the intersection of SR 44 and Dance Road. From mile log 19.9 to 1.5 in Greene County the urban section with a 20 foot raised median is used. New parallel bridges will be added to the existing ones at Lick Creek and Oconee River along with a bridge at Crooked Creek replacing the existing triple culvert. The proposed project area will partially parallel the existing Dance Road corridor from the intersection of Dance Road and SR 44 to the Lower Harmony Road and Dance Road intersection. The remaining alignment will continue across active cattle pasture land to the new intersection at US 441/SR 24. The maximum width of the proposed right-of-way (ROW) will be 200 feet.

A review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File at the University of Georgia in Athens, and of Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System, found no previously recorded archaeological sites located within a 1-kilometer radius of the project area.

The Phase I addendum survey for the proposed alternate beginning for the SR 44 project resulted in the identification of five previously unrecorded sites. Two of the newly recorded sites, 9PM2179 and 9PM2182, have fully defined boundaries within the area of potential effect (APE). Sites 9PM2180, 9PM2181, and 9PM2183, extend outside the project area.

Site 9PM2179 is a historic artifact scatter, measuring 30 meters by 30 meters, which has fully defined boundaries. The site is situated in a section of open pasture. The majority of the artifacts appear to date to the twentieth century, although a few could indicate a nineteenth century occupation. Overall, the shallow and disturbed context in which the artifacts were recovered is evidence of a landform impacted by years of cultivation and pastoral activity. No structural remains were identified. Based on EPEI’s findings, the site is recommended as ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) under Criterion D.

Site 9PM2180 is a light density, lithic scatter located in a planted pine grove. The site measures 40 meters by 30 meters; however, the boundaries of the site have not been firmly established beyond the limits of the APE. No diagnostic pre-contact artifacts were recovered, preventing any specific dating of the site. Due to the eroded soils, the potential for identifying cultural features is low. Based on our findings, the portion of 9PM2180 within the APE does not contribute to its eligibility under Criterion D and no further archaeological work is recommended. However, since the site boundaries are not completely established, the NRHP eligibility of 9PM2180 is recommended as unknown.

Site 9PM2181 is a historic artifact scatter, measuring 70 meters by 35 meters; however, the boundaries of the site have not been firmly established beyond the limits of the APE. The site is located in an overgrown lawn and a small pecan tree grove adjacent to SR 44. The artifacts cannot be closely dated but the assemblage suggests an early to mid-twentieth century occupation, although some materials could indicate a late nineteenth century date. An existing, active pump house was noted along the APE boundary; however, no structural remains were identified that could be associated with the artifacts found. Based on these results, the portion of 9PM2181 situated in the APE is recommended as non-contributing to its NRHP eligibility under Criterion D. Because the full boundaries of the site have not yet been defined, its overall eligibility is recommended as unknown.

Site 9PM2182 consists of an 8 to 10 meter long linear scatter of rocks and occasional brick in a wooded area immediately adjacent to the Dance Road and Lower Harmony Road intersection. The site measures approximately 15 meters by 15 meters. This site was fully defined within the APE boundaries. EPEI’s investigation resulted in a single surface collection of a brick. Based on our findings, the site is recommended as ineligible for the NRHP under Criterion D.

Site 9PM2183 is a historic scatter and a pre-contact, non-diagnostic isolate located in an overgrown, immature planted pine stand at the intersection of Dance Road and Lower Harmony Road. The site measures 60 meters by 25 meters; however, the boundaries of the site have not been firmly established beyond the limits of the APE. The majority of the artifacts cannot be closely dated, and generally appear to be either associated with the early twentieth century, or are materials recently discarded. The square nails recovered, however, could indicate a nineteenth century occupation. Based on the eroded and disturbed soils, and the shallow depth of the recovered artifacts, the portion of 9PM2183 situated in the APE is recommended as non-contributing to its NRHP eligibility under Criterion D. However, as the full boundaries of the site have not yet been defined, its overall eligibility is recommended as unknown.

In summary, the newly recorded archaeological sites 9PM2179 and 9PM2182 have completely defined boundaries within the current project area. These sites are unlikely to produce additional archaeological data with further investigation, and are recommended ineligible for the NRHP. Sites 9PM2180, 9PM2181, and 9PM2183 are recommended as of unknown eligibility for the NRHP, as their site boundaries were not completely defined. However, the portions of these sites within the proposed APE do not contribute to their eligibility. An environmentally sensitive area (ESA) designation is recommended at sites 9PM2180, 9PM2181, and 9PM2183 following the unknown site boundary at the extent of the APE in order to protect these portions of the sites.

No further archaeological investigations within the APE are recommended. Should the design of the proposed project change to include areas of either 9PM2180, 9PM2181, or 9PM2183, which could not be delineated, further archaeological testing will be required to delineate fully these locales.