The Barrow County Planning and Development Department proposes to extend the existing Ronald Wood Road beyond its current terminus at the Northeast Georgia Regional Airport to a new intersection with Pentecost Church Road (GA 82) within Barrow County, Georgia. The proposed development entails the creation of a junction with the existing corridor and extending the road to a new intersection at Pentecost Church Road. Since at least some of these areas appeared to have the potential for reasonably undisturbed environments, a cultural resources survey was required. This report documents the design and results of this archaeological survey. It is intended to be in accordance with the requirements of and the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended in 1980 and 1992, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974, the Georgia Environmental Policy Act of 1991, and Section 4 (f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966.
On 3 July 2008, personnel from Ground Truth Research conducted a survey for archaeological resources in the areas intended to be impacted by road construction. The fieldwork was preceded by a literature review of documents housed at the Georgia State Site Files in Athens, the University of Georgia Library and Special Collections in Athens, and resources maintained at the offices of Ground Truth Research in Decatur.
The project area is located between Pentecost Church Road (GA 82) and Pickle Simon Road (CR 180) just east of Russell, Georgia. The total length of the new roadway is 0.98 km (0.61 miles), with an additional 0.37 km (0.23 miles) along Pentecost Church Road for creation of the new intersection. While the proposed right-of-way is 18 m (60 feet) wide, the construction limit ranges from 18 to 43 m (60 to 140 feet) wide. Primary impacts for the construction of the roadway and extension should be restricted to this corridor.
The area of potential effect for archaeological resources is restricted to the area to be directly impacted by road construction. Indirect and cumulative impacts are beyond the scope of this project. All areas within the existing and proposed right-of-way were examined by means of testing and surface examination. Available surface exposures were examined and subsurface tests were excavated when these exposures were insufficient. Twenty-two shovel tests were excavated within the primary impact areas. A single prehistoric isolated find was recovered from the surface.
No significant archaeological resources were discovered within the area of potential effect for the proposed roadway construction. The remains examined do not retain the integrity to be eligible under any criterion for a National Register property. As isolates are deemed ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places by definition, it is recommended that no further work should be required and it is further recommended that the proposed undertaking as described above be permitted to proceed.
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