Archaeological Survey of US 280/SR 30 from Cordele to Americus, Crisp and Sumter Counties, Georgia

Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. (SAS) contracted with Greenhorne & O'Mara to conduct an archeological survey for the Georgia Department of Transportation's (GDOT) proposed widening and realignment of US 280/SR 30 from Cordele to Americus in Crisp and Sumter Counties, Georgia. The survey was conducted to ensure that Greenhorne & O' Mara and the Georgia Department of Transportation are in compliance with federal regulations concerning the effects of a federally funded project on significant archeological resources. Under the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, this requires a consideration of effects to sites listed or eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The goal of our survey was to combine archival research and field inspection to determine if any archeological sites exist in the project area, and if so, determine their significance in terms of eligibility for listing on the NRHP. The widening of US 280 required additional right-of-way (ROW) beyond existing ROW on one or both sides of US 280 to accommodate an increase from a two- or three-lane highway to a four-lane highway. New alignment for proposed bypasses required a ca. 75 m wide corridor of new ROW. Improvements for roads intersecting with US 280 also were required. Existing ROW combined with newly proposed ROW defined the area potential effect (APE) and the archeological project area. The project length was approximately 44 km (27 mi), covering 302 ha (747 ac) of area. The results of the archeological survey identified 57 archeological sites and 18 archeological occurrences (isolated artifacts) (Table 1 and Figure 1). Only 52 sites have potential adverse effects due to the highway widening/realignment project because five sites were recorded on a now abandoned realignment plan. Thirteen of the 57 sites are multicomponent, consisting of two or more archeological components at a single site location. Typically, a multicomponent site consisted of one prehistoric component and one historic period component. All occurrences were single component. Most of the prehistoric sites consisted of low density lithic or lithic and ceramic scatters that were not identifiable to a specific prehistoric period or phase. Three lithic scatters were classified as low intensity Coastal Plain chert quarries. Prehistoric periods that we identified among sites and occurrences included Early Archaic (Kirk Corner Notched PP/K) (n=2), Middle-Late Archaic (Pickwick PP/K) (n=1), Late Archaic (Newnan PP/K) (n=1), Early-Middle Woodland (Deptford ceramics) (n=1), Middle-Late Woodland (Swift Creek ceramics) (n=1), and Late Woodland (triangular point with 17 mm base and/or Lake Blackshear/Ocmulgee Cord Marked) (n=2). Historic period components were comprised mostly of early-to-middle twentieth century house/farmsteads and artifact scatters (n=29). Late nineteenth-early twentieth century components were nearly as prevalent (n=27). One late eighteenth-early twentieth century component was also recorded. After Phase I survey-level investigation of the proposed APE a single site, 9SU181, required additional Phase II archeological investigation to firmly determine its eligibility for listing on the NRHP within the proposed APE. We found substantial disturbances in two 2-x-2-m test units, indicating poor preservation of 9SU181 within the project area. Additional archeological investigation on 9SU181 is not recommended and the proposed widening of US 280 will not adversely affect significant archeological resources on this site.