Cultural Resources Phase I Survey Conducted on the AT&T Fiber Optic Route at the St. Mary's River Crossing, the Satilla River Crosssing, and from Macon, Georgia to SR 230

This report will present the findings of an intensive level survey conducted on the Piedmont and Coastal plains of Georgia. This survey was conducted on three segments of the AT&T fiber optic easement that runs from Jacksonville, Florida to Atlanta, Georgia. A 75.2 km (47 mi) length of the corridor was survey in the Piedmont region of Georgia. At the same time, the Satilla and the St. Mary's River Crossings were surveyed. This survey was conducted for Patton Management Corporation in order to comply with the stipulations of a permit from the USACOE, Savannah District, related to activities affecting waters of the United States. During the survey of the Piedmont region of Georgia, a total of 33 cultural resource site locations were identified. Of these, 28 sites were isolated finds or small clusters of historic or prehistoric artifacts. The 28 isolated or small sites are not believed to be eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Five site locations, however, consisted of moderate to dense concentrations of prehistoric lithic materials, and appeared to be NRHP eligible deposits. Upon further examination these five sites were considered not to be eligible for the NHRP. These sites were found on upland settings with no potential for deeply buried soil horizons. At the same time, the sites are also in plow zones, or in former plow zones, where at least the upper 30 cm of soil has been disturbed by modern agricultural activities. Therefore it is recommended that no further work be conducted on the St. Mary's and Satilla River crossings. At the same time, no further work is recommended for the sites that were uncovered in the Piedmont region of Georgia.