An Archaeological Survey of a Portion of SR 120 (Roswell Road) and its Intersection with SR 120 Loop, Cobb County, Georgia

This report presents the results of an archeological survey that was conducted along a 2.15 km (1.33 mi) section of State Route 120 (Roswell Road), a .43 kin (.25 mi) length of intersecting Sewell Mill Road and a 1.1 km (.68 mi) length of SR 120 Loop at its intersection with SR 120. This is one contiguous project area that is composed of two Georgia Department of Transportation projects. The majority of the project area, the length of SR 120, was archeologically surveyed by Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. in 1997. The current project is a refinement of that earlier project with the addition of a narrow strip of project area up a length of Sewell Mill Road and a narrow, thoroughly disturbed strip of project area on the west side of SR 120 Loop, north and south of its intersection with SR 120. In essence, lanes will be added to SR 120, turn lanes added to Sewell Mill Road and a new entrance/exit ramp will be built at the SR 120/SR 120 Loop interchange. The proposed new right-of-way or construction easement varies in width and was clearly depicted on detailed project aerial photographic maps. The areas not surveyed in 1997, which was a portion of Sewell Mill Road, the strip along SR 120 Loop and the strip along SR 120 that contains the historic Marietta Campground, were field investigated and shovel tested on January 25 and 26, 2005. Because the bulk of the project area was surveyed and results presented in a report in 1997, we have prepared here a short report presenting the results of our 2005 investigations. We have appended our 1997 report, which provides more thorough treatment of the project description, photographs and background information. Virtually the entire length of SR 120 is heavily developed with commercial and residential properties that have obliterated any sites that might have once existed. The strip of project area along SR 120 Loop was similarly almost completely destroyed by highway construction and grading associated with adjacent development. The strip of Sewell Mill Road is somewhat less graded and developed, and here one site was discovered. This is site 9CO685, a highly disturbed, sparse prehistoric lithic scatter that we recommend as not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. One focus of our fieldwork in 2005 was the Marietta Campground (a Methodist meeting ground established in 1837), which had been excluded from project effects and thus field investigation during the 1997 survey. The project now will extend 11.6 in (38 ft) toward campground property from the existing curb. The length of project area in the campground was visually inspected and shovel tested with 12 tests, all sterile. We encountered one campground feature, a masonry spring house, but this is just outside of the project boundaries and is protected from the highway fill by a concrete retaining wall. It was clear that project designers were aware of this feature and had designed the project to avoid and protect it. The project also will take a narrow strip of land from the Marietta Campground Cemetery (established in 1899), which lies across SR 120 from the campground. The eastern front portion of the cemetery (cemetery plots 3 and 4), adjoining SR 120, was probed and investigated in 1997, as an initial step in obtaining a permit to affect the cemetery pursuant to Official Code of Georgia Section 36-72-4. However, the area of the cemetery to be affected by the project has changed. Now all four front plots (1-4) will be affected. Probing of the cemetery in 1997 indicate that no graves exist within the currently proposed construction zone in plots 3 and 4. Plots 1 and 2 have not been investigated. Coping and a subsurface linear feature (former wall?) were detected in the proposed construction zone in plot 4. As was the case in 1997, the OCGA 36-72-4 permitting procedure will need to be carried out for the project to go forward. This will need to include additional probing in plots 1-4. We conclude that the proposed widening and construction of SR 120, SR 120 Loop and Sewell Mill Road will not affect any significant archeological sites. There will be no adverse effect to the archeological component of the National Register Eligible Marietta Campground. Construction will affect the Marietta Campground Cemetery, but it appears that no graves will be disturbed. However, this has not been archeologically confirmed. A permit to affect the cemetery will be needed pursuant to OCGA 36-72-4, and this will require more archeological delineation (by means of probing) in the newly defined area of potential effect during the permit application procedure.