Archeological Survey of Proposed Intersection Improvements for Winterville Road at Nellie B. Avenue, Clarke County, Georgia

This report presents the results of an archeological survey that was conducted at the intersection of Nellie B. Avenue and Winterville Road on the east side of the Athens perimeter in central Clarke County (Figure 1). The completed highway improvement project will reconstruct the existing intersection to facilitate heavy traffic between East Athens and the industrial area along Athena Industrial Park. Scheduled improvements include widening an approximately 215 m (700 ft) section of Winterville Road and realigning Nellie B. Avenue (Figure 2). The realignment of Nellie B. Avenue will eliminate the existing section of the road from its intersection with Winterville Road west for approximately 70 m (230 ft). The new route of Nellie B. Avenue will tum southeast at this point and intersect Winterville Road at a right angle. The survey area included all area within the required construction easements along existing and proposed roadways, a width of approximately 25 m (80 ft), The maximum aerial extent of project construction should be contained within this easement. Since Federal funds are being used for the highway improvements, an archeological survey was required in order for Clarke County to be in compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 (as amended), which requires consideration of effects from federally funded or permitted projects on significant cultural resources. The goal of the survey was to locate, describe and evaluate the significance of any archeological sites in the area of potential generally consists of fill dirt and/or extensively mixed deposits from initial road construction and maintenance. The proposed route of Nellie B. Avenue runs through a small patch of 20-30 year old pines and scrub brush. Four shovel tests were excavated due to the lack of surface exposure. None of these shovel tests produced archeological material.