Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Ellijay-Roundtop Road 230 kV Transmission Line and Substation Tract, Gilmer County Georgia, Revised Edition June 2015

This report presents the results of an intensive archaeological survey conducted by Southeastern Archaeological Services, Inc. in western Gilmer County, Georgia, where the Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC) wishes to construct an approximately 17.1 mi (27.5 km) long 230 kV transmission line. Also include in the survey at the southern terminus of the corridor, was a size acre (2.4 ha) tract for a proposed Roundtop Road substation. The line begins at the existing Ellijay primary substation, extends northwest and west for about half its length before turning south and southeast. The corridor ends a short distance south of the community of Roundtop. A 50-ft (15-m) wide corridor was surveyed for most of the project area, those sections along existing roads. Cross-country sections of corridor were 100 ft. wide. Even wider corridors (200, 400 and 600 ft) were examined near Carters Lake, on Corps of Engineers property. The wider survey corridor allowed for design changes in the event that significant cultural resources were found near the lake. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate any archaeological resources that may be adversely affected by the construction of the transmission line and substation. The survey was undertaken in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The area of potential effect for the project consisted of the proposed corridor width plus guy wire anchor locations, which extended 100 ft from the corridor centerline. Archival research showed a number of historic structures within or very near the project corridor but no previously recorded archaeological sites were present with the proposed corridor. The present report presents the archaeological data pertaining to the final, revised routing of the proposed transmission line and substation. A total of 17 sites and 7 artifact occurrences are recommended ineligible for listing on the National Register for Historic Places.