Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Bridge Replacement on CR 1/Upper Morris Road at Holanna Creek Quitman County, Georgia

New South Associates, Inc. conducted a Phase I Archaeological Survey of a bridge replacement corridor on CR 1/Upper Morris Road at Holanna Creek, Quitman County, Georgia (GDOT Project CSBRG-0007-00(521), PI #0007521). The purpose of the investigation was to determine whether any archaeological resources were present in the project’s Area of Potential Effect (APE). Wilbur Smith Associates, who is responsible for providing an assessment for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), subcontracted New South Associates to perform the archaeological survey, which was conducted on February 7 and 8, 2011. The project is 0.28 mile in length with an existing right-of-way (ROW) of 80-feet and a proposed ROW of 150 feet. Archaeological shovel testing was conducted at 30-meter intervals to investigate the project area, including an additional 100-foot width beyond each side of the identified APE. Two transects on either side of CR 1 were tested to evaluate both the existing and additional ROW, as required by the GDOT guidelines presented in the revised GDOT Environmental Procedures Manual (2010). A historic structures survey for this project was conducted separately.

This report describes the objectives, methods, and results of this archaeological survey; provides evaluations concerning the significance of newly identified resources; and makes recommendations concerning further historic preservation work. Background research indicated that no archaeological sites have been recorded in the project area or within a two-mile radius. Previous archaeological study in the vicinity is limited to one Phase I survey reported by Eric A. Duff (2009) for GDOT/FHWA project CSSTP-M003-00(896) in Quitman and Randolph Counties; no archaeological resources were identified during the course of that survey.

The Phase I Archaeological Survey resulted in the recording of the remnant wooden piers of a former bridge crossing at Holanna Creek. The former bridge served as a crossing over the creek prior to construction of the existing bridge and road realignment in 1959. The piers do not suggest characteristics that would make the crossing eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Based on the results of this survey, the proposed replacement of the bridge at CR 1/Upper Morris Road at Holanna Creek would not result in any effects on NRHP-eligible archaeological resources; therefore, no further work is recommended for this project.