Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Hitching Post Telecommunications Facility in Waycross

Subterranean Consultants (STC) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed Hitching Post telecommunications facility lease area and access/utility easement on March 28, 2018. The survey was conducted for Terracon Consultants, Inc., on behalf of Cellco Partnership and its controlled affiliates doing business as Verizon Wireless, to locate and identify archaeological resources and to assess resource significance based on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria (36CFR Part 60.4 [a-d]). Survey was conducted to comply with the provisions of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) permitting under the Nationwide Programmatic Agreement (47 CFR Part 1). In accordance with the permitting process, the survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA) of 1966, as amended.

The Phase I survey included a literature review and intensive field survey. During the literature review, which took place on March 19, 2018, the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) examined the database to determine if previously recorded archaeological resources are in the project area or within 1 km of the project area. Field survey was conducted using surface and subsurface techniques (i.e., visual inspection and shovel testing) to locate and identify archaeological resources within the project area of potential effects (APE) for direct effects. Literature Review: According to GASF, there are no previously recorded archaeological sites within 1 km (.6 mi) of the current APE for direct effects and no surveys within the APE for direct effects. Archaeological Resources Field Survey: There were no archaeological materials (i.e., culturally modified artifacts, cultural deposits, features, or human remains) located within the APE for direct effects. Recommendations: No archaeological resources will be impacted by the proposed project. Therefore, STC recommends that the current proposed project receive archaeological resource clearance; no further archaeological work is recommended.