Archaeological Survey of a New Alignment of a Water Line Between the Ocmulgee River and Interstate 75, Bibb County, Georgia

In April, 1997, an archeological survey was conducted prior to the construction of a 42 inch diameter water line on the west side of the Ocmulgee River. Ultimately, the pipeline will deliver water from the new Macon water treatment plant, which is now under construction, to the residents of Macon. A proposed alignment of the water line was surveyed in 1994 (Benson 1994). In the meantime, the design was changed, shifting the line a few hundred meters southwest of the area previously surveyed. The current survey was undertaken to ensure that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Macon Water Authority are in compliance with federal regulation concerning the disposition and protection of significant archeological resources.

Two archeological sites were located during the re-survey. One, temporarily designated as Bibb 1, is a multicomponent prehistoric site that is potentially eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. Bibb 2 is a small prehistoric site that contains sparse artifact deposits and appears to be disturbed by plowing. It is recommended ineligible to the National Register.

On April 22, following the discovery of the sites, a meeting was held at the construction office of Jordan, Jones and Goulding. In attendance were design engineers, Macon Water Authority personnel, FEMA representatives, and the consulting archeologists. Three options were discussed: 1) re-routing the water line around the end of Bibb 1 to avoid impacts, 2) avoiding the site via tunnelling beneath it, and 3) implementing archeological data recovery within the area of potential effect of pipeline construction. After cost estimates for each option were examined, it was decided to re-route the pipeline around the north end of the site. Subsequent to this meeting, more field work was undertaken to pinpoint the site boundaries, and to survey other re-routed segments. This final work established firm boundaries for the north end of site Bibb 1, and determined that the revised route will also avoid site Bibb 2. In essence, no archeological sites will be affected by the re-routed line.