A Cultural Resources Survey of the Alamo Transmission Line and Substation, Wheeler County, Georgia

Oglethorpe Power Corporation (OPC) contracted with Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. to conduct an intensive cultural resources survey of a proposed 3.4 km (2.1 mi) transmission line and 1.5 ha (3.7 ac) substation in Wheeler County. The purpose of the survey was to locate and evaluate the significance of an historic properties (archeological sites and standing structures) that could be impacted by the construction and maintenance of the facilities. Our survey identified two previously unrecorded historic house sites and two isolated artifact occurrences. No structures that appeared to be older than fifty years were found within view of the proposed facilities. The historic sites have both been destroyed by bulldozing and cultivation for planted pines. Artifacts are scattered on the surface with very little found in subsurface shovel tests. No well, chimney, or other structural remains could be found on either site. Both sites appear to have been occupied during the first half of the twentieth century and possibly the late nineteenth century. We recommend both sites and occurrences ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places because they fail to meet the criteria for eligibility established by the National Park Service. They are not likely to yield additional important information. They have provided us with some basic information but are not likely to produce more important information due to their poor preservation. We recommend no further work at either of these sites. It is the recommendation of the principal investigator that no significant (potentially eligible) historic properties will be affected by the proposed transmission line and substation, and that, in regard to cultural resources, the project be given clearance to proceed.