Intensive Archeological Survey of Proposed Improvements to State Route 17 Between Elberton and Royston; Elbert and Hart Counties, Georgia

Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc., conducted an intensive archeological survey of proposed improvements to State Route (SR) 17 between the cities of Elberton and Royston, in Elbert and Hart Counties, Georgia. The project corridor consists of approximately 6.8 km (4.2 mi) of expanded right-of-way along existing SR 17 and approximately 19.4 km (12.0 mi) of proposed new location right-of-way. Most of the corridor is on new location in order to bypass the towns of Goss, Dewy Rose, Bowman and Vanna, all of which lie on existing SR 17. The corridor varies in width from generally 46 m (150 ft) along existing roadway to generally 76 m (250 ft) for the new location portions. The area of potential effect for this survey is the maximum extent of proposed right-of-way/easement, as depicted on project maps supplied by the consulting engineers for the project. The fieldwork was conducted from late November 2003 to early January 2004. All high probability areas (any area with < 15 % slope) along the proposed right-of-way were surface inspected and shovel tested on a 30 m interval. Low probability areas (areas with > 15 % slope) were surface inspected and randomly shovel tested. Most sites were investigated with a 10 m interval shovel testing pattern; a few larger sites incorporated a 20 m interval. The survey resulted in the identification of 32 previously unrecorded sites and 12 artifact occurrences. Of the 32 total sites, 15 date exclusively to the historic period, 11 contain only prehistoric components, and 6 include both prehistoric and historic occupations. Based on the survey data, 27 sites are recommended ineligible to the National Register due to the sparsity of artifacts, disturbance from grading or erosion, and the likelihood that the sites will provide little additional, substantial information as the result of further investigations. Another five sites are recommended as eligibility unknown because much of each site lies beyond the area of potential effect, areas that were not investigated. However, we conclude that the portions of these sites within the area of potential effect do not contribute to the their eligibility because of sparseness of artifacts, disturbance and the likelihood that these portions would not contribute substantial information from further investigations. Thus, we conclude that the proposed project will have no adverse effect to significant (eligible to the National Register) archeological sites, and, barring any change of plans, should be given clearance to proceed.