Cultural Resources Survey and Evaluative Testing at Site 9Fo218 Proposed Old Atlanta Transmission Line and Substation Site

R.S. Webb & Associates conducted a cultural resources survey of the proposed Old Atlanta Transmission Line and Substation Site in Forsyth and Gwinnett Counties, Georgia in the fall of 1995 and winter of 1995. The assessment was conducted on behalf of Oglethorpe Power Corporation to locate and identify cultural resources within a proposed transmission line corridor and substation site and assess resource significance based on National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) criteria. The survey included a literature/records search and an archeological field survey of the project area. A historic structures survey was conducted by the Jaeger Company and reported in Old Atlanta 115 kV Substation and Transmission Line, Section 106 Report (1996). Review of pertinent National Register files, historic structures files and archeological site files revealed that no National Register resources are located within the project area. One known archeological site is located within the project area. This site, 9FO218, was reported to be a mound/village complex. Site 9FO218 was detected during a recent survey conducted by Garrow and Associates and based on that investigation, was recommended as potentially eligible for the NRHP. Historic maps and aerial photographs showed 15, 19th or early 20th century structures and one cemetery in the vicinity of the project area. Seven sites and three isolated finds were detected during the field survey of the proposed transmission line corridor. None of the structures or the cemetery identified during the literature review, are located within the proposed corridor. One of the detected resources is the previously recorded mound/village site, 9FO218. This site was recommended as potentially eligible for the NRHP, concurring with the Garrow and Associates findings. The recommendation was based on the rare site type and the potential for intact cultural deposits and features. Since the proposed transmission line corridor will partially impact a portion of the site, 2.0 by 2.0 meter units were excavated at each of the six power pole locations. Early to Middle Woodland and Early to Middle Mississippian components were identified within a 20 to 30-centimeter thick midden deposit. Based on these findings and the potential for addressing research issues, Site 9FO218 was recommended as eligible for the NRHP. The remaining six sites and isolated finds include: four prehistoric lithic scatters (Sites 9FO273, 9FO274, 9FO275 and 9FO278); a 20th century mine/borrow pit (Site 9FO276); a 20th century fertilizer gin (Site 9FO277); two prehistoric lithic artifacts (IF-1 and IF-3); and IF-2, a prehistoric lithic and a bottle glass fragment. The lithic scatters and isolated finds have been severely disturbed by erosion and agricultural practices; the mine/borrow pit and the fertilizer gin are of recent origin and have been subjected to neglect, erosion and/or structure removal. Since these sites are unlikely to produce significant archeological data, they are recommended as ineligible for the NRHP and no further work is warranted.