Intensive Archeological Survey of Proposed Improvements to State Road 17 Between Thomson and Elberton

Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc., conducted an intensive archeological survey of proposed improvements to State Road 17 between the cities of Thomson and Elberton, in Elbert, McDuffie, and Wilkes Counties, Georgia. The project corridor consists of approximately 66km (41 miles) of expanded right-of-way, as well as roughly 13 km (8 miles) of proposed new segments. It does not include about 8 km (5 miles) around the city of Washington, which are presently under construction. A number of small access roads were also surveyed. The corridor varies in width from 30 to 76 meters. The fieldwork was conducted between December 1995 and February 1996. All high ability areas (any area with < 15% slope) along the proposed right-of-way were surface inspected and shovel tested on a 30 m interval. Low probability areas (areas with > 15 % slope) were surface inspected and randomly shovel tested. Only sites located on the side of State Road 17 that is to be widened (that is, within the area of potential effect) were recorded. Many sites tested with a 15 m or 20 m interval shovel testing pattern. More intensive testing programs were initiated on five sites that appeared to be potentially eligible to the National Register. This testing generally consisted of closer interval shovel testing and the excavation of larger test units (measuring 1 x 1 m, 1 x 2 m, or 2 x 2 m). The survey resulted in the identification of 64 previously unrecorded sites and 35 artifact occurrences (Table 1). In addition, four previously recorded sites were relocated. Of the 68 total sites, 34 date exclusively to the historic period, 20 contain only prehistoric components, and 14 include both prehistoric and historic occupations. Based on the survey and (in some cases) site testing data, 65 sites are recommended ineligible to the National Register due to the sparsity of artifacts, disturbance from grading or erosion, and the likelihood that the sites will provide little additional, substantial information as the result of further investigations. The three remaining sites include two prehistoric artifact scatters that are recommended to the National Register. One of these (9WS29) is a stratified site on a terrace of the River. The other (9MF38) is located on a ridge nose north of Big Creek. Both of the sites include Archaic, Woodland, and Mississippian components. After the completion of the fieldwork, the proposed right-of-way was redesigned and will avoid site 9WS29. The right-of-way should also be revised to avoid site 9MR38, or the portions falling within the area of effect will require data recovery to mitigate construction-related impacts. In addition to these two sites, two historic cemeteries are located within the project corridor, and will require special consideration. The first is a small, badly disturbed grave plot east side of SR 17 south of Elberton. Because many of the markers have been moved, it is difficult to estimate the number of graves that are present on the site, but a reasonable estimate may be between 5 and 10. Owing to the disturbance, the cemetery is recommended ineligible to the National Register. The other cemetery, on the east side of SR 17 in Wilkes , is better preserved. It also appears to be much larger, consisting of at least 40 graves. The age and cultural affiliation of the cemetery cannot be precisely determined on the basis of the scant historic information that is available, but it likely dates to the late nineteenth or early twentieth century. As a well-preserved example of a historic cemetery consisting almost exclusively of fieldstone markers, the site is considered eligible to the National Register. Both cemeteries must be avoided or moved in compliance with State Code Section 36-72.