An Archaeological Survey of Proposed Improvements to U.S. 441 from just South of the Ocmulgee river Bridge to the U.S. 441/C.R. 149 Connector Coffee and Telfair Counties, Georgia

Southeastern Archeological Services (SAS) conducted an intensive archeological survey d site testing of the proposed widening and new construction associated with improvements U.S. 441, in Coffee and Telfair Counties, Georgia. The project, which measures proximately 31.9 km (19.8 mi) in length, begins just south of the Ocmulgee River, near the irthern limit of Coffee County. It terminates at the intersection of U.S. 441 and the C.R. &U.S. 441 Connector, just south of the city of McRae in Telfair. The project is divided into two parts, which required different survey methods. The southern 21.8 km (13.5 mi) of the project corridor, from the Ocmulgee River north to the intersection of C.R. 134 and U.S 441 in the small community of Workmore, consists of the widening of the existing two-lane road into a four-lane divided highway. The proposed new right-of-way in this area extends a maximum of 45.7 m (150 ft) from the existing right-of-way. Survey included the proposed right-of-way extension, as well as wetland avoidance alternatives. Construction plans have not been completed for the northern 10.1 km (6.3 mi) of the survey corridor, from the intersection of C.R. 134 and U.S 441 north to the intersection of U.S. 441 and the C.R. 149/U.S. 441 Connector. The project area here measured 60.1 m (200 ft) on both sides of the existing right-of-way. Although it is not known precisely where the road will )e placed within this corridor, the proposed new rightof-way will be narrower than the area that was surveyed. The survey recorded 22 previously unreported archeological sites and one artifact occurrence (Table 1). In addition, one previously reported site was relocated. Nine of the 23 sites date exclusively to the prehistoric era, and ten date only to the historic period. Four of the sites contain both prehistoric and historic components. All but two of the sites within the project corridor are recommended ineligible to the National Register of Historic Places, due to their limited research potential and/or loss of integrity. The first exception consists of the Lowe Site (9TF139). This site was tested by Bowen (1984) who recommended that the site was eligible to the National Register. A portion of the site was subsequently mitigated by Crook (1987) in anticipation of a previous round of road and bridge improvements. Our investigations of the proposed right-of-way reveal that the deposits are sparse and poorly preserved. We therefore recommend that the portion of the site within the area of potential effect will not be affected by the proposed project because of previous disturbance. The second exception consists of site 9TF176, a prehistoric and historic artifact scatter near Turnpike Creek. Documentary sources (a 1939 road map and a 1949 aerial photo) indicate that this was a small historic community. We suspect that an early historic component could be present on the site but our investigations were limited to a very small area. We therefore recommend that the eligibility of the site is unknown. However, archeological investigations within the proposed right-of-way indicate that this portion of the site is highly disturbed. Thus, we recommend that the portion of site 9TF176 falling within the area of potential effect will not be affected by the proposed project because of previous disturbance. One other site, although recommended ineligible to the National Register, will also require additional consideration. Site 9TF186 consists of a twentieth century cemetery. Construction plans indicate that this site will only be impacted as an alternative if wetlands must be avoided. Obviously, the road should be designed to avoid the cemetery if possible.