Additional Phase I Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Social Circle Bypass, Newton and Walton Counties, Georgia

On March 14 and 15, 2012, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted additional Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed Social Circle Bypass (Georgia Department of Transportation [GDOT] Project No. CSSTP-0007-00(217), P.I. No. 0007217) in Newton and Walton counties, Georgia. The proposed Social Circle Bypass project would construct a new location roadway extending north and east from State Route (SR) 11/South Cherokee Road just south of the Newton/Walton County line (mile log 13.00) in Newton County and connecting to the existing Social Circle Bypass at East Hightower Trail in Walton County. This project would complete the eastern bypass around downtown Social Circle. The project proposes to construct two 12-foot travel lanes (one in either direction) with 10-foot rural shoulders (4.0 feet paved, 6.0 feet grassed). The project would cross the following existing streets: Laurel Street, Cannon Drive/County Road (CR) 195, Thurman Baccus Road, and East Hightower Trail. The required right-of-way (ROW) for the project would vary from 120 feet to 200 feet in width (variance to accommodate turn lanes and construction limits). The total project length is 2.8 miles. Changes to the project since the original archaeology survey include an increase in the amount of ROW required for the project and a change in the project’s northern terminus. Originally, 49.78 acres of ROW would be required for this project. Based on more detailed engineering, the actual required ROW has increased to 72.61 acres, an increase of approximately 23 acres. The additional ROW is mainly associated with the implementation of 14 sediment basins and increases to the lengths of the tie-ins at East Hightower Trail, South Cherokee Road, Thurman Baccus Road and Cannon Drive. Originally, the project would have terminated just past the intersection of East Hightower Trail and the proposed Social Circle Bypass to the tie-in at the existing northern section of the existing Social Circle Bypass. To avoid adverse impacts on a property at this intersection, the project limits were reduced approximately 900 feet and would end precisely at the intersection of East Hightower Trail and the proposed Social Circle Bypass. A review of the Georgia Archaeological Site File (GASF) at the University of Georgia (UGA) in Athens, and of Georgia’s Natural, Archaeological, and Historic Resources Geographic Information System (GNAHRGIS) showed that six previously recorded sites, 9WN126-9WN131, are located during EPEI’s original survey of the proposed Social Circle Bypass corridor (Quirk 2007) and they include nineteenth and twentieth century historic occupations as well as a Middle Archaic lithic scatter and a non-diagnostic lithic scatter. EPEI’s 2007 survey for the bypass is the only archaeological project completed within 1 kilometer of the survey area to date. The additional Phase I survey for the Social Circle Bypass resulted in the identification of one new archaeological site, 9WN146, and in extensions of two of the sites EPEI discovered previously, 9WN127 and 9WN128. Site 9WN146 is a collapsed historic house and associated well. The front half of the site is located in new area of potential effect (APE) and the back section of the house and the well are actually located beyond the current APE; the site boundary measures 14-x-11 meters. The house apparently dates to the twentieth century based on aerial photography and historic map research and was extant in 1996. No artifacts were recovered from shovel tests and only two, which cannot be closely dated, were surface collected from the site. Due to the severe erosion of topsoil in the vicinity, the scarcity of artifacts recovered, and the fact that only the front portion of the house is in the APE and subsurface features are therefore unlikely, the portion of the site identified by EPEI is recommended as non-contributing to its eligibility under Criterion D. The overall eligibility of the site, however, is unknown as it has not been fully defined. Site 9WN127 is an historic house site consisting of an intact brick chimney, a pile of collapsed roofing material, and a brick-and-mortar capped well. The current site boundary is 22-x-25 meters. Based on aerial photography, the structure was erected between 1939 and 1950, and may have been occupied into the early 1990s. At the time of EPEI’s original survey in 2007, the well was not within the APE; it now is. However, no artifacts were recovered during either of EPEI’s surveys, and based on these results as well as severe soil erosion in the vicinity of the site, the portion of 9WN127 in the APE does not contribute to its eligibility under Criterion D. The overall eligibility of the site, however, must remain unknown as its full boundaries to the south have not been defined. Site 9WN128 is an historic artifact scatter that currently measures 38-x-34 meters. During the current Phase I survey, four additional positive shovel tests were excavated for a site total of seven. Shovel test profiles exhibited a shallow, mixed plow zone with evidence of erosion. Historic map and aerial research suggests the site dates to the twentieth century. No structural remains have been identified to date, although four structures and numerous outbuildings appear on historic aerials. All evidence of structures in the vicinity is gone by 1971. Based on these results, the portion of 9WN128 situated in the APE is recommended as non-contributing to its eligibility under Criterion D. However, as the full boundaries of the site have not yet been defined, its overall eligibility is recommended as unknown. No further archaeological investigations within the APE are recommended. Should the design of the proposed project change, additional archaeological work may be necessary.