A Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Leesburg By-pass and Highway 19 Widening, Lee County, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Transportation contracted with Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. to survey a proposed bypass around the city of Leesburg and the widening of U.S. 19 from Leesburg to Smithville for cultural resources in compliance with section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, as amended. A standard pedestrian survey was used to cover 24 km (15 mi) of proposed right-of-way, consisting of 3.5 km (2.2 mi) at 61 m (200 It) wide new location right-of-way (to bypass Leesburg) and 20.5 km (12.7 mi) of highway widening, which will entail 30 m (100 ft) of new right-of-way. The survey used shovel tests in vegetated areas and surface inspection of exposed areas. Much of the survey area was under cultivation, but portions were pasture, fallow fields, pecan groves, and swamps. A total of 14 sites and 10 occurrences were located, shovel tested and recorded. The sites include nine prehistoric lithic scatters, some of which are classed as quarry/workshops, three late nineteenth / early twentieth century house sites and two sites with prehistoric lithics and late nineteenth-early twentieth century historic material. All sites were evaluated against the criteria of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places (36CFR60). None of the sites appear to meet the criteria as none are likely to yield important new information on prehistoric or historic lifeways (criteria d). Thus, Southeastern Archeological Services recommends that none of the sites or occurrences are eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places, and that in regard to cultural resources, the project be granted clearance to proceed.