In July 2020, Trileaf Corporation (Trileaf) performed a cultural resource inventory survey for a proposed monopole communications tower located in Gilmer County, Talking Rock, Georgia Latitude: 34° 35' 51.06" N, Longitude: 84° 26' 36.40" W. The project location is located within a wooded area.
Verizon Wireless proposes the construction of a new monopole telecommunications tower with a total height of 195 feet (59.4 meters). The new tower and associated equipment will be situated within a proposed approximate 100 x 100-foot (30.5 x 30.5 meter) cell tower lease area. A proposed approximate 30 x 55-foot (9.1 x 16.8 meter) access and utility easement will travel generally south away from the lease area towards Orchards Lane. Total acreage of the new construction area is approximately 0.19 acres (0.08 Hectares).
Assistant Archaeology Project Manager/Senior Archaeologist Zach Horne, M.A., RPA, under the direction of Trileaf, performed this survey in response to the planned use of the above-described parcel and the potential impacts that such use might represent to archaeological and architectural cultural resources. The Phase I cultural resource survey was designed to discover all prehistoric and historical period cultural resources that might be present within the project area.
The field survey of the project area, which included a pedestrian survey, shovel testing, and visual inspection, found no evidence for the presence of archaeological or architectural properties in relation to the current project area's Direct APE. Additionally, based on a map and survey form search using the resources of the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office GNAHRGIS GIS platform, inspections of the Georgia Archaeological Site Files (GASF 2020), as well as the resources of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) conducted by Zach Horne, Assistant Archaeology Project Manager/Senior Archaeologist of the Trileaf Corporation, on July 22, 2020 identified no NRHP-listed or NRHP-eligible historical resources located within the ½-mile APE for visual effects. In a letter dated August 10, 2020 form Senior Planner Kevin McAuliff of the Northwest Georgia Regional Commission stated the Gilmer County Tax Assessor's website identified two (2) historical properties {1948 Orchard Lane, constr. 1948; and 5~25 Yukon Road, constr. 1967) with no prior determination of eligibility, but were included for inclusivity. A review of archaeological sites and surveys, conducted through GNAHRGIS by Zach Horne, M.A., RPA on August 5, 2020, identified no previously recorded archeological sites, and no previously recorded archaeological surveys that were identified within 1-mile of the proposed project area.
Based on these findings, Trileaf recommends No Historic Properties within the Direct APE and No Historic Properties within the ½-mile Visual APE. It is therefore recommended that project clearance be granted with no further investigation or evaluation of the project area relative to those resources.
Help us to continue to make advances in research, stewardship, and bringing the past to life. No matter the size of the gift, your contribution will directly support groundbreaking archaeological research through sustaining student and outreach programs, and technological innovations. To make a secure gift online to the Archaeology Lab Fund, CLICK HERE.