Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Colony Homes Development Area

This report documents the findings of a Phase I archaeological survey of the proposed Colony Homes development area. This development tract encompasses approximately 950 acres and is located in the north Georgia Piedmont in the southeastern corner of Paulding County. The area is a combination of pasture and forest in rolling hills and floodplains. The tract was subjected to a walkover survey and subsurface testing. A total of 13 archaeological properties were identified, representing a range of historic and prehistoric activities. The reconnaissance and this survey delineated 6 prehistoric sites, 4 historic house sites, a cemetery,-and a bridge. The prehistoric sites could not be assigned to any specific temporal period at this level of investigation, and the historic sites all date to the early to mid twentieth century. These sites were located and preliminary assessments of their contents and condition were made. Four of these sites (HS-1, AS-2, AS-3, and AS-4) were found to retain no depositional integrity and were not recommended for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Two other sites that were not recommended (HS-3 and HS-4) had undergone modification in the recent past. Three of the discovered archaeological sites (HS-1, HS-5, and HS-6) potentially contain intact deposits. The first two of these yielded prehistoric lithics and ceramics and may represent a limited duration occupation site. HA produced lithics and may have been the site of some specialized activity. All of these sites are potentially eligible for inclusion in the NRHP and are therefore recommended for further testing. An early twentieth-century house site (HS-2) has a standing structure that may contain unique architectural features. In addition, subsurface deposits are likely to exist in association with the house. This site is also potentially eligible for inclusion in the NRHP and recommended for further testing. Straddling Sweetwater Creek is a metal bridge. It is recommended that this structure be examined by an architectural historian to determine if it exhibits any unique architectural features. An abandoned cemetery, which may have been affiliated with Bethel Methodist Church, is located near the southeastern corner of the project area. Since the Abandoned Cemetery and Burial Act (Georgia Code § 36-72-1) requires a mitigation or preservation plan if changes occur in the use of land adjoining cemeteries, a plan to this effect should be implemented.