GDOT US19/SR 3 Archaeological Survey and Testing Americus to Butler

This report outlines the results of New South Associates' archaeological survey and testing of the proposed Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) widening and re-alignment of USl9/SR3 between Americus and Butler in southwestern Georgia. The proposed initial project corridor was approximately 33.44 miles (53.8 km) long. The following four projects were included in the corridor: project EDS-19 (55) between Angelica Creek in Sumter County and SR271 in Schley County; project EDS19 (64) between SR271 and SR 240/Murray's Crossroad in Schley County; project EDS-19 (63) between Murray's Crossroad and CR 248/Rupert Post Office in Taylor County; and project EDS-19 (65) between Rupert Post Office and Butler's southern bypass in Taylor County. Subsequent realignments and shifts in the proposed right-of-way extended the area surveyed to approximately 40 miles (64 km). During the initial Phase I survey, conducted between June 14 and July 14, 1999, 38 sites and 22 isolated finds were located along the project corridor. Of the sites, three are previously recorded (i.e., 9Su9, 9Su10, and 9Su11) and three fall outside the proposed right-of-way (i.e., 9Su11, 9Sh10, and 9Sh14). A total of 25 sites yielded prehistoric artifacts and 23 contained historic period material. One historic site (9Sh7) was actually a small family cemetery south of Ellaville. To avoid this late nineteenth-early twentieth century cemetery, an additional survey of an alternative route southeast of Ellaville was conducted on September 13, 1999. This additional survey yielded only one isolated find, which dated to the early twentieth century. Phase II archaeological test excavations of three potentially eligible prehistoric sites (9Su10, 9Sh15, and 9Sh23), all being prehistoric, were conducted between September 14 and September 24, 1999. Based on their stratigraphic integrity, sites 9Su10 and 9Sh23 are recommended eligible to the National Register of Historic Places. Site 9Su10 in the Red Hills contains neatly stratified Early Archaic, Middle Archaic, and Early Woodland components, whereas Site 9Sh23 in the Sand Hills contained stratified Middle Archaic, and Early and Middle Woodland material. Following Phase II testing and a Georgia Department of Transportation office meeting on November 5, 1999, it was decided to survey an alternative route west of 9Sh23 to determine if avoidance was a possible alternative to data recovery. This survey, conducted on November 8, 1999, showed that 9Sh23 extended on the western side of US19/SR3 and that data recovery of the eastern side is the most viable option. During a November 23, 1999 meeting between the Department of Transportation and New South, it was decided that additional backhoe excavation of the deep prehistoric deposit at sites 9Su10 and 9Sh23 needed to be done in order to compile a comprehensive research design for Phase III data recovery. Backhoe excavations at these two sites were completed March 17, 2000. At this time in the field, seven new proposed shifts in alignment were also surveyed. From south to north the proposed adjustments of US19/SR3 included the following: 1.) a slight westward adjustment of a straight stretch on the Sumter and Schley boundary; 2.) a slight northward adjustment of a curve immediately southeast of Ellaville Airport; 3.) a westward shift and straightening of a curve north of Buck Creek; 4.) a slight westward movement of a curve immediately north of Murray's Crossroad; 5.) a westward shift of a curve north of Pleasant Hill Church; 6.) an eastward shift of the straight stretch immediately south of Sand Bethel Church; 7.) and an eastward realignment of a curve in the road east of Rupert. As a result of this additional survey, two existing sites (9Sh21 and 9Sh22) were found to extend west of the current US19/SR3 along the corridor north of Buck Creek. Also, a new historic period site (9Tr107) was discovered on the proposed widening south of Sand Bethel Church. Following a GDOT public hearing on May 22, 2000, survey of two new shifts of the proposed right-of-way were conducted on June 8 and 9, 2000. One shift was northwestwards, between Deer Creek and Stewart Road. The second shift was eastwards, in the vicinity of Rupert. A prehistoric site (9Sh26) was located north of Deer Creek and two historic sites (9Tr108 and 9Tr109) were located east of Rupert. At the end of the project, a total of 43 sites and 25 isolated finds were encountered. Of these, two sites (9Su10 and 9Sh23) are recommended eligible.