Cultural Resources Survey of the SALEM ZION – A Telecommunication Project

In June 2021, Trileaf Corporation (Trileaf) performed a cultural resource inventory survey for a proposed self-support lattice communications tower located in Lincoln County, Lincolnton, Georgia Latitude: 33° 43’ 01.33” N, Longitude: 82° 25’ 24.03” W. The project location is located within a wooded area. Verizon Wireless proposes to construct a 255-foot self-support communications tower, with an overall height of 265 feet including all appurtenances, and associated equipment within a 60-foot by 65-foot fenced compound within a 100-foot by 100-foot (10,000-square-foot) lease area. The project includes a 12-footwide gravel drive within a 30-foot-wide access/utility easement, which extends approximately 450 feet generally east-southeast from the lease area to County Road 220. In addition, a 70-foot by 30-foot vehicle turnaround area will adjoin the lease area and a 30-foot-wide utility easement will extend approximately 50 feet east from the terminus of the access easement. The proposed project area is located within a wooded area. Project Archaeologist Colin Bean, M.A., 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, yielded no evidence for the presence of archaeological or architectural properties within the Direct APE for the current project. Additionally, no NRHP-listed or NRHP-eligible properties were identified within the proposed project’s Direct or Visual APE (0.75-mile radius). However, three (3) GNAHRGIS historical properties (42405, 42406, and 42407) were identified, with no prior determination of NRHP-eligibility, but included for inclusivity. Based on these findings, Trileaf recommends No Historic Properties in both the APE-DE and the APE-VE. It is therefore recommended that project clearance be granted with no further investigation or evaluation of the project area relative to those resources.