Environmental Corporation of America (ECA) has completed an Archaeological Assessment for the federal undertaking at the subject site. The proposed undertaking would include a proposed 100-foot by 100-foot (30-meter by 30-meter) lease area that would include a 410-foot overall height guyed-type telecommunications structure and associated ground-level support equipment. The facility would be accessible by a proposed approximate 652-foot long by 40-foot wide (199-meter by 12-meter) access/utility easement. Three proposed guy-wire easements would extend to the southeast, northeast, and west of the proposed tower center would and would measure 50 feet wide (15 meters) and between 211 feet and 223 feet long (64 meters to 68 meters). The proposed facility would be located at Rabbit Branch Road, Plains, Sumter County, Georgia
This archaeological assessment was conducted in order to ascertain whether the proposed undertaking, on the project site, might directly or indirectly affect cultural resources, if any such resources exist. During our database research, we found no previously recorded archaeological sites or surveys within our standard 1-mile background research radius. During our fieldwork we uncovered one comingled prehistoric and historic archaeological site (9SU265) focused around the dirt road running through the proposed lease area, access/utility easement, and northeastern guy wire easement. This site consisted of a total of 89 lithic artifacts, 3 pieces of unidentified metal, 1 piece of burned brick, 4 pieces of colorless container glass, 2 pieces of green container glass, 1 piece of amber container glass, and 6 pieces of charcoal. All artifacts were recovered from thirteen shovel test pits and during surface collection along the existing dirt road within the proposed access/utility easement and northern half of the lease area. The site lacked context due to the disturbances from timber farm activities and the use of the dirt road. We did not delineate the site. ECA believes that the identified site, located within the APE for direct effects, would not be eligible for inclusion to the NRHP due to a lack of research potential and a lack of significance.
ECA believes that the proposed undertaking would have no effect on any historic or prehistoric archaeological resources that are listed in or eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places. Therefore, for archaeological cultural resources, we recommend no further consultation under Section 106 Review of the National Historic Preservation Act for this proposed undertaking.
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