Cultural Resource Assessment Survey Americus Scenic Gateways Project, Americus, Georgia

The City of Americus, Georgia proposes to develop a boardwalk for observation of wetlands at Rest Area #1, located on US 19/280 and Town Creek (Figure 1). Since this is a Transportation Enhancement Activity project, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) required an archaeological assessment of the proposed project area to complete the Section 106 review process. The City contracted with Southwind Archaeological Enterprises of Tallahassee, FL to provide the necessary services for the archaeological assessment. Frank N. Charles, RP A of Southwind served as Principal Investigator for this project in a cooperative venture with SouthArc, Inc. The field survey was completed in October, 1999 under the direction of Frank N. Charles III. Documentation was completed by Lucy B. Wayne, RPA in SouthArc's office with final report coordination by F.N. Charles in his Tallahassee office.

The proposed boardwalk is located in an approximately 5-acre tract known as Rest Area # 1, located between US 19/280 on the northwest, Town Creek on the southeast and Magnolia Street on the east (Figure 1). Approximately half of the tract is wetlands associated with the creek. The City of Americus is located east of the park area. The project area includes an existing Humane Society facility in the south end (Figure 2); this facility is accessed from Magnolia Street on the east. A dirt road is located in the western part of the tract and a semi-circular asphalt and gravel drive is located on US 19/280 at the northwest edge of the property. A drainage ditch averaging three feet in depth forms a half-circle southeast of this driveway. Several clay and gravel pads formerly used for picnic tables lie between the driveway and the ditch. There is also a hobo encampment in the woods in this area.

Proposed site improvements include a parking in the area of the existing driveway on US 19/280 and a boardwalk extending from this parking area south and west to the dirt road. A second short boardwalk will lead from the main boardwalk east to a wetlands overlook (Figure 2). Picnic tables will be placed on the existing pads.

Due to the limited impacts of the proposed project and the extensive wetlands, the survey was confined to the uplands between the drainage ditch and the wetland area along US 19/280. One site, the Hobo site, was identified within the tract based on a series of screened shovel tests which recovered 10 lithic flakes and a small core. All of the material came from disturbed contexts in the upper level of the site. Based on the poor context and the lack of culturally diagnostic artifacts, the Hobo site is not considered to be significant.