Phase I Archaeological Resources Survey of the Proposed Fiddler Green Bridge Replacement over Red Bluff Creek, Atkinson County, Georgia

In November of 2019, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) conducted a Phase I archaeological resources survey (ARS) of a proposed Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) bridge replacement carrying Fiddler Green Road over a segment of Red Bluff Creek in Atkinson County, approximately 3 miles (mi) (4.8 kilometers [km]) north of the city limits of Axson, Georgia. The bridge (Bridge ID # 003-5029-0) is part of GDOT’s Low Impact Bridge Program (LIBP) which has been developed to provide expedited project delivery for bridge projects with few anticipated impediments. To qualify for this program, a potential bridge replacement will require minimal permits, minimal right-of-way (ROW), minor utility impacts, no Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) coordination, no onsite detour, and must meet other low-impact characteristics as defined in GDOT’s Low Impact Bridge Program Manual (2018). The existing Fiddler Green Road bridge was constructed in 1965 and does not meet current or construction data standards. The existing ROW along this section of Fiddler Green Road is approximately 150 feet (ft) (45.7 meters [m]) in total width.

As the project is currently in the concept phase of development, an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) was considered as the project’s survey area in lieu of a formal Area of Potential Effects (APE) determination. The APE for the Phase I archaeological survey was defined as the total length and width of the ESB. The dimensions of the ESB were determined prior to fieldwork by the design team and were intended to encompass an area large enough to capture any potential variations in project design work. The final design for the bridge replacement project is anticipated to be smaller in size than the dimensions of the project ESB. The project ESB extends along Fiddler Green Road for 1,000 ft (350 m) in length. The width of the ESB is approximately 150 ft (45.7 m). The total area of the project ESB is approximately 3.44 acres (ac) (1.39 hectares [ha]).

Prior to the start of fieldwork, a background review of the ESB was initiated using the Georgia’s Natural and Historic Resources GIS (GNAHRGIS) database. A review of this database did not reveal any previously recorded archaeological sites within a 1-km radius of the project ESB. According to the GNAHRGIS review, one previously conducted archaeological survey has been recorded within the project ESB.

During the course of the archaeological investigation, a total of 28 shovel tests were excavated within the ESB. A total of 24 shovel tests were negative for cultural material and features; 4 shovel tests were positive for cultural material. During the course of field survey, 5 shovel tests were not excavated due to roadway or inundated soils and were labeled as “No Dig”. The total depths of all excavated shovel tests varied but were for the most part consistent due to the relatively small survey area. Field survey efforts resulted in the identification of one new archaeological site (9AT54) identified immediately southeast of Red Bluff Creek, and one Isolated Find (IF) near the northwestern limits of the project ESB.

Site 9AT54 is a scatter of lithic and ceramic material located southeast of Red Bluff Creek, along both the northern and southern sides of Fiddler Green Road. Site identification and delineation resulted in three positive shovel tests, with the limits of the ESB preventing full delineation of the site to the north and to the south. The site was identified through the subsurface recovery of five artifacts: four fragments of non-diagnostic chert (Coastal Plain) debitage and one decorated sand and grit tempered ceramic rim fragment. Site 9AT54 is located within the floodplain of Red Bluff Creek. The known site area is irregularly shaped and measures approximately 55 m north to south and 45 m east to west. Elevations onsite measure 47 m above mean sea level (amsl). No mottling or fill material was observed during subsurface examination at the site which suggests the deposit is intact. The only recovered diagnostic artifact was the ceramic fragment from Shovel Test B8, located to the south of Fiddler Green Road. The ceramic fragment is consistent with a vessel rim and is characterized by sand and grit-tempering with a decorative, cord-marked surface treatment. The ceramic is most consistent with Savannah Fine Cord-Marked typologies in this MANAGEMENT SUMMARY iii. region of Georgia, which would date the deposit to the Middle Mississippian Period (1100 – 1350 AD). Shovel testing within the site did not reveal the presence of any subsurface features or detritus indicative of potential activity related features in the vicinity (e.g. fire-cracked rock, charcoal flecking). The low quantity of artifacts recovered indicates that the area was not intensively utilized.

The low amount of material recovered, and the lack of features present, suggests the site is the remnants of a short-term Middle Mississippian activity area where hunting and gathering activities, as well as limited tool maintenance, most likely occurred. Small sites such as 9AT54, which demonstrate a limited dataset relating to the Middle Mississippian period, are a relatively common occurrence in this area of the Coastal Plain. The site’s manifestation in a creek floodplain also coincides with our understanding of Mississippian period settlement patterns in this area. As the dataset recovered from 9AT54 indicates the settlement was likely of both limited intensity and short duration, significant information relating to larger patterns of Middle Mississippian subsistence is unlikely to be uncovered through additional work. Site 9AT54 lacks integrity of association with data sets that could broaden our understanding of how precontact peoples settled, subsisted, and functionally utilized floodplains during the Mississippian period. Therefore, the identified portion of 9AT54 within the ESB lacks significant data potential under Criterion D of the NRHP. As the site could not be fully delineated to the north or the south due to the limits of the survey area, the overall NRHP eligibility of 9AT54 should be considered unknown. Since there are unevaluated portions of 9AT54 located to the north and south of the ESB, those areas are recommended as Environmentally Sensitive Areas (ESAs) and should be demarcated with Orange Barrier Fencing (OBF). The OBF will protect the unevaluated portions of 9AT54 during project implementation. OBF placement will be determined at a later date when final project plans are available.

Resource IF-1 was identified within the northern section of maintained ROW along Fiddler Green Road, northwest of Red Bluff Creek, and roughly 30 m east of the project ESB limits. Resource IF-1 was identified through the recovery of one Coastal Plain chert flake fragment from Shovel Test A2 at a depth of 100 centimeters below the surface. Shovel Test A2 was delineated at 15-m intervals with no additional positive shovel tests being encountered. The chert flake is undiagnostic in nature. As a single artifact find, the recovery is considered an isolated archaeological occurrence. Survey occurrences such as IF-1 are not deemed archaeological sites; are not evaluated for significance; and are considered ineligible for the NRHP (GCPA 2019).