Phase I Archaeological Resources Survey of the CR 134/Cordray Elam Church Bridge Replacement Over Falling Creek, Calhoun County, Georgia

In October 2019, Vanasse Hangen Brustlin, Inc. (VHB) conducted a Phase I archaeological resource survey (ARS) of the proposed County Road (CR) 134/Cordray Elam Church Road bridge replacement over Falling Creek, located approximately 6.6 miles (mi) (10.6 kilometers [km]) north of the town of Morgan in Calhoun County, Georgia. The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) proposes to replace the existing bridge (Structure ID# 037-5013-0) over Falling Creek, as the existing structure is below current standards. The existing bridge, was built in 1958, is 120 feet (ft) (36.6 meters [m]) long, composed of concrete and timber and has a deck width of 25 ft (7.6 m) with two 12-foot (ft) (3.6-m) travel lanes. The proposed bridge replacement is due to issues with load capacity and roadway geometry. The proposed bridge would have multiple bent (pier) caps repaired due to spalling. The existing Right-of-Way (ROW) along this portion of CR 134/Cordray Elam Church Road is approximately 100 ft (30.5 m).

As the project is currently in the concept phase, an Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB) was implemented in lieu of an Area of Potential Effects (APE). The APE, as defined in 36 CFR 800.16(d), is the geographic area or areas within which an undertaking may directly or indirectly cause changes in the character or use of historic properties. The APE for this Phase I ARS is therefore defined as the length and width of the project ESB. The dimensions of the project 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 width of the project ESB extends 75 ft (24 m) from either side of the center line of CR 134/Cordray Elam Church Road, for a total width of 150 ft (45.7 m). The length of the project ESB extends 500 ft in either direction from the center of the bridge, for a total length of 1000 ft (305 m). The project ESB encompasses approximately 3.4 acres (ac) (1.3 hectares [ha]).

Prior to the start of fieldwork, a review of Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) and the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) databases was completed. As a result of this research, no archaeological sites or previous surveys have been recorded either within the limits of the project ESB, or within a 1 km radius of its boundaries.

Shovel testing and visual inspection of the project ESB took place along two parallel transects on either side of CR 134/Cordray Elam Church Road. During the course of the survey, 21 shovel tests were excavated within the project ESB. Three shovel tests were located within roadway or inundated by water and were recorded as “No Dig.” As a result of the survey one new archaeological site (9CU213) was recorded north of Falling Creek and east of CR 134/Cordray Elam Church Road. Site 9CU213 is a localized scatter of lithic material located north of Falling Creek and east of CR 134/Cordray Elam Church Road. The site was identified through the subsurface recovery of approximately 37 non-diagnostic chert (Coastal Plain chert) artifacts of mostly debitage from a single positive shovel test. One Coastal Plain chert projectile point/knife (PP/K) base fragment identified as a Morrow Mountain II type was also recovered.

Site 9CU213 is located at the base of a gently sloping terrace within the floodplain of Falling Creek. The site measures approximately 49 ft (15 m) east to west and approximately 49 ft (15 m) north to south. Elevation at the site is approximately 251.5 ft (76.5 m). GDOT PI No. 0016417 - Management Summary – Archaeological Resources Survey ii.

The artifact assemblage recovered from Site 9CU213 consists of 38 artifacts and can be characterized as a vertically diffuse lithic scatter with a primary deposit (n=34) located between 40 and 80 cmbs. One flake fragment was recovered during auger testing at 140 cmbs and represented the deepest artifact recovered. All artifacts were found within the matrix of Stratum II, a B horizon of alluvial sediment. The field in which the site is located displayed furrow surface scarring; soil mottling was evident within the first 20 cm. Approximately eight artifacts showed signs of thermal alteration. Although conjectural, the PP/K fragment is similar in form to recovered Middle Archaic Period Morrow Mountain II type examples recovered from this area of Calhoun County and is one of the most common Middle Archaic type forms identified in Georgia (Coe 1964). The PP/K fragment was recovered from a depth between 80 and 100 cmbs. Although stratification is impossible to say with certainty, there is likely a single precontact component present at Site 9CU213. The lithic debitage and PP/K fragment, identified between approximately 40 to 140 cmbs, represents an artifact concentration which could be suggestive of a lithic (i.e. chert) manufacturing feature which is typical in both short and longer-term habitations.

The site within the project ESB consists of a large concentration of lithic artifacts that exhibit multiple stages of lithic tool manufacturing, a diagnostic PP/K base, and is located on the edge of the Falling Creek floodplain. As a result, the site within the project ESB has the potential to further our understanding of how precontact peoples settled, subsisted, and functionally utilized riverine areas in southwest Georgia. Therefore, the identified portion of Site 9CU213 within the project ESB may have significant data potential under Criterion D of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), however additional testing would be required to confirm this. As the site could not be fully delineated to the north due to the limits of the survey area, the overall NRHP eligibility of Site 9CU213 should be considered unknown. The portion of the site within the project ESB should be avoided during project implementation. In addition, since there are unevaluated portions of Site 9CU213 located to the northeast of the project ESB, all areas are recommended to be considered an Environmentally Sensitive Area and demarcated with Orange Barrier Fencing (OBF). The OBF will protect the unevaluated portions of Site 9CU213 during project implementation. OBF placement will be determined at a later date when final project plans are available.