An Archeological Survey for Proposed Middle and High Schools, Bartow County, Georgia

The Bartow County School System is proposing to construct a combination Middle School and High School near the Etowah River in the southern portion of the county (Figure 1). Because of the high potential for significant archeological sites in the area, the school system contracted with Southern Research to conduct a phase one archeological survey of the area prior to construction. This report presents the methods and results of the survey as well as recommendations for phase two test excavations at one site that is judged to be potentially significant. This report is authorized by the Georgia Environmental Policy Act of 1991, GEPA (Title 12, Chapter 16, Official Code of Georgia Annotated). GEPA requires that a responsible state agency official determine the effects a state funded project will have on the environment. Archeological sites are included as an environmental category covered by the law. If a project has the potential to disturb the environment, the agency official must submit an Environmental Effects Report to the Director of the Environmental Protection Division of the Georgia DNR and provide for public participation. This report provides partial compliance with the GEPA by documenting that the Bartow County School System has begun the process of assessing the effect their project will have on significant archeological sites. The phase one survey of the project area discovered only one archeological site, 9Br10, that is recommended as potentially significant. There will be an adverse impact to the environment if the construction or operation of the two new schools disturbs significant archeological deposits at the site. Phase two work is required to determine if the site is significant and provide documentation to assess the effects various kinds of development will have on the site. The survey was conducted intermittently from October 30 to November 15, 1995. W. Dean Wood was the principal investigator and field director and was assisted by Joel Jones, John Doolin, and John Turner. Laboratory analysis was done by Kay Wood. Mr. Marion Brasington, Construction Manager with the school system, served as the project liaison.