A Cultural Resources Survey for the Proposed South Waco Substation and Access Road in Haralson County, Georgia

An intensive cultural resources survey was carried out for the Oglethorpe Power Corporation's proposed South Waco substation and access road. The total area included a 30 ft x 70 ft (9 m x 21 m) pad area for the substation, a 980 ft x 55 ft (287 m x 17 m) straight line right-of-way for use as an access road with electrical service. In addition, the survey covered 100 fit (30 m) outside of the pad area on all four sides. The total coverage for the original survey is estimated at 2.47 acres (0.98 ha), of which 1.35 acres (0.54 ha) lie within an area of indirect effect. An additional area extending 90 m (297 ft) west, 30 m (100 ft) east, and 30 m (100 ft) north of the original block survey was investigated after the identification of the NRHP recommended eligible site (see Figure 2). No previously identified historic or prehistoric cultural resources were located within the project area boundaries through background research with the Georgia State Historic Preservation Department nor with the State Site Files at the Department of Anthropology, University of Georgia. Likewise no historic structures were encountered during the survey. One prehistoric site of probable Archaic affiliation was encountered during the field investigation. The site is recommended eligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places under criterion "d," since it does present subsurface deposits suitable for archaeological data recovery which may contribute significantly to the study of prehistory in the Southeastern US. particularly with regard to upland resource procurement patterns, and possibly towards methods of interment and/or territorial demarcation. The rock pile may represent a possible burial/cremation location and does contain considerable amounts of in situ charcoal. The site has been disturbed by the prior excavation (time period unknown) of a single hole within the center of the rock pile, probably a looter's hole. Shovel test probes located under the rock pile and adjacent to it revealed the presence of both prehistoric lithic material and an intact subsurface feature. A recommendation of avoidance was thereby forwarded. In response to the recommendation, Oglethorpe Power Corporation requested additional survey of the adjacent land parcels to the west and northwest (see Figure 2). These areas represent moderate to gently sloping hillside and were at sometime in the recent past heavily logged. They were cleared of any extant cultural materials through pedestrian reconnaissance. The entire project was carried out in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act by personnel qualified under 36 CFR part 61.