Phase I and II Archaeological Investigations of the Proposed Ball Street Extension, Houston County, Georgia

During April, July, and November 2005, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted Phase I and II archaeological investigations at the proposed Ball Street extension location, Perry, Houston County, Georgia. The proposed project would consist of extending Ball Street for 1.05 miles from Larry Walker Parkway/SR 224 on the south to the intersection with Duncan Avenue on the north. Approximately 1,300 ft of new location would be required for the proposed undertaking; the remainder of the proposed right-of-way (ROW) would primarily be situated within industrial or railroad corridor construction disturbance. The goal of the survey was to locate and evaluate archaeological sites within the Area of Potential Effects (APE) of the proposed undertaking, so that potential effects to any resources identified could be evaluated in accordance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The project was conducted under a contract with Keck and Wood, Inc. An examination of the Georgia Archaeological Site Files at the University of Georgia in Athens showed that no previously recorded archaeological sites are located in the project corridor. Two archaeological sites (9HT89 and 9HT90) are located within a one-km radius of the study corridor's southern terminus. During the Phase I survey, one prehistoric archaeological site, 9HT194, was identified. Shovel testing was conducted to the east and west of the corridor to determine if the site extended beyond the APE. Results of shovel testing indicated that the site extended to the east and west of the APE, and that the site was potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Following consultation with the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT), Phase II archaeological testing was undertaken at the site in order to support a recommendation of NRHP eligibility. Additional shovel tests and a total of two  1-x-2 m and one 1-x-1 m units were excavated at the site. Based on the results of this work, the portion of 9HT194 investigated during Phase II exhibited a moderate artifact density, low diversity of artifact types, and yielded no definitively diagnostic artifacts. In addition, Phase II investigations indicated that the stratigraphic integrity of the site may have been compromised by both intensive agriculture and bioturbation. Overall, the research potential of the portion of the site examined is low; therefore, the portion of 9HT194 investigated during this project does not contribute to the site's eligibility. It is recommended that the project be allowed to proceed as planned within the APE. However, until the boundaries of the site are completely defined, no clear eligibility recommendation for 9HT194 is possible.