An Archaeological Survey of Revised Waterline and Road Locations Associated with the Macon Water Treatment Plant

In February and March, 1997, an archeological survey was conducted prior to the construction of water pipelines associated with Macon Water Authority's new water treatment plant. Proposed pipeline locations had already been surveyed in 1994, but in the meantime the design changed. Consequently, additional archeological survey was needed so that the Macon Water Authority is in compliance with federal regulations concerning cultural resources. A total of 4 km of new pipeline corridor was surveyed. In addition, about 500 m of road that deviated from the original design was also surveyed in the northern part of the property. This followed an existing dirt road, and except for paving, this segment had already been constructed at the time of the survey. Except for a prehistoric artifact occurrence outside the right-of-way, no archeological material was present along this road. The survey located three sites and three artifact occurrences. Field Site 1 is a multi component prehistoric site located in a large floodplain adjacent to the Ocmulgee River. Test units show that there is little archeological material within the proposed centerline for the pipe. However, an area of dense artifact deposits is located 13 m northwest of the pipeline. Most of the artifacts are contained in a buried plow zone, but some also continue below this level. At this time we recommend that the portion of the site within the pipeline corridor is ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historic Places. The eligibility of the remainder of the site, whose boundaries have not been determined, is unknown at this time. Field Site 2 is a temporally undiagnostic lithic scatter that was defined on the basis of nine positive shovel tests. Although its eligibility status is unknown, the boundaries were outlined so the pipeline can be shifted to avoid the site altogether. Field Site 3 appears to be an 18th century Creek Indian site that is contemporaneous with the Tarver (9J06) and Little Tarver (9J0198) sites to the southeast. The eligibility of this site is unknown, but the pipeline will miss this site as determined from engineering plans. It is the principal investigator's recommendation that pipeline construction will not adversely affect any sites that are eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. Field Site 1 outside of the pipeline right-of-way may be eligible, but the deposits are buried beneath 30-40 cm of alluvium. The site should not be affected by using the floodplain as a staging area.