Phase I Archaeological Survey of Low Impact Bridge Program, Thomas Wilson Road (CR 12) over Tumlin Creek

The Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) proposes the replacement of existing Bridge 045-5004-0 over Tumlin Creek in Carroll County, Georgia. New South Associates, Inc. (New South) completed an archaeological survey of the project’s Environmental Survey Boundary (ESB), which extends 500 feet from either end of the bridge and 75 feet on either side of the centerline, with 200 feet of tie-in onto Tumlin Creek Road at the intersection of Thomas-Wilson Road. The bridge replacement is part of GDOT’s Low Impact Bridge Program (LIBP), which provides expedited project delivery for least-complicated type bridge replacements (Georgia Department of Transportation 2016). The work for this survey was conducted in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended (36 CFR 800) and was intended to determine the presence of significant archaeological resources in the project’s ESB. An Extended Survey Corridor (ESC) was not included in this survey in accordance with the guidelines of cultural resources surveys under the LIBP. Project plans were not available at the time of the survey.

This project resulted in the identification of one previously unrecorded historic period archaeological site, 9CL445. The site is a low-density scatter of artifacts, likely associated with previously recorded Historic Resource 207747. The portion of the site within the ESB lacks significant data potential. However, because the site was not tested outside of the ESB, the full extent of the site is unknown, and therefore the site’s eligibility for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is also unknown. It is recommended that an Environmentally Sensitive Area (ESA) be established for the site once project plans are available.