Phase I Cultural Resources Survey of the 255-Acre Odum Solar Facility on Bill May Road, Colquitt County Georgia

Apalachee Research Archaeological Consultants Inc. completed a Phase 1 cultural resource survey on behalf of Pilot Environmental Inc. in September 2017. This investigation was undertaken in compliance with Section I 06 of the National Historic Preservation Act and its implementing regulations 36CFR800. The goal was to evaluate the potential impacts of the proposed development on historic properties that are listed or may be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The proposed development will consist of a solar facility on an approximately 255-acre tract east of the Berlin community in southeastern Colquitt County, Georgia.

This investigation preceded with a literature review that indicated there were no previously recorded NRHP eligible cultural resources within the area of potential effects. One archaeological site (9CQ54) is located in the survey tract. It is late nineteenth to mid-twentieth farmstead that was recorded and evaluated as ineligible for the NRHP during a 2005 corridor survey that intersected the southern portion of the current survey tract. 9CQ54 was revisited during the current survey and we agree with the original evaluation that this site is not eligible for the NRHP.

The ensuing fieldwork consisted of an intensive archaeological survey of the 225-acre tract and documentation of structures that are 50 years of age or older that could have visual or other indirect effects as a result of the proposed construction. As a result of the fieldwork we identified six new archaeological sites, three isolated artifact finds, and five historic resources.

The new archaeological sites include one prehistoric lithic scatter (9CQ 114) and five early to mid-twentieth century historic artifact scatters. The lithic scatter consists of four flakes recovered from the surface. Cartographic sources and interviews with a local informant indicate three of the historic sites (9CQ110, 9CQ111 , and 9CQ112) were likely barns and one site (9CQ113) was farmhouse. The other historic site (9CQ 1 09) could not be linked to a former structure. Three isolated finds were also recorded these include a chert flake (Isolate I) and two berty cup fragments (Isolates 2 and 3). These sites lack significant research potential because they are disturbed, lack integrity, and are common site types for which there arc better preserved or protected examples. We conclude these sites do not meet NRHP eligibility requirements and warrant no further work.

The architectural survey identified five historic resources. These include four ranch houses (Historic Resources A, B, C, and D) fronting Bill May Road and one circa 1940s cottage on Peachtree Road (Resource E). These lack significant historical associations and architectural distinction and therefore do not appear to meet NR.HP eligibility criteria. We recommend no further documentation for these five historic resources. The Georgia Archaeological Site File records one archaeological site (9CQ54) within the survey tract. There are also two documented historic resources within a 0.3-mile radius. All three were recorded in 2005 and evaluated as not eligible for the NRHP as part of a transmission line corridor survey (Gresham 2005 and Van Buren 2005). These were revisited during the current survey and we concur with the previous NRHP recommendations that these are not eligible for the NRHP. Fieldwork was completed on September 5 by Ray Talley, Ron Schoettrner, Derik Durbin, and George Price. Fieldwork consisted of an intensive archaeological survey of the 225-acre tract and documentation of structures that are 50 years of age or older that could have visual or other indirect effects as a result of the proposed construction.

The archaeological survey recorded six new sites, and included a revisit to the previously recorded site (9CQ54). Three isolated artifact finds were also documented including chert flake (Isolate 1) and two Herty cup fragments (Isolated Finds 1 and 2). Cartographic sources and interviews with a local informant indicate two of the sites (9CQ54, 9CQ113) were farm-houses, and three (9CQ110, 9CQ 111, 9CQ 112) were barns. 9CQ 109 was not identified. Several of these structures were demolished in the 1960s when the center pivot irrigation systems were installed. The artifact inventory from these sites is heavily dominated by twentieth century material. The prehistoric artifact inventory consists of only four chert flakes from 9CQ 114 and one chert flake from Isolated Find 1. This is consistent with previous investigations that resulted in a high density of sites with late nineteenth and early twentieth century materials with comparatively few prehistoric sites consisting almost entirely of low density lithic scatters (Gresham 2005a, 2005b; Mozingo 2000).

The architectural survey included field checks of several parcels identified as containing possible historic structures based on a previous survey (Van Buren 2005), cartographic sources, and tax records. Five historic resources were identified as a result. These are documented as Historic Resources A through E (HR A-E). These include four circa 1950s ranch houses fronting Bill May Road (HR-A, HR-B, HR-C, & HR-D) and a previously documented circa 1940s cottage on Peachtree Road (HR-E). These lack significant historical associations and architectural distinction and therefore do not appear to meet NRHP eligibility criteria.