Archaeological Reevaluation of Project EDS-545(38), Wilkes County

Project EDS-545(38), Wilkes County, has been surveyed with respect to archaeological resources, especially those on or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The purpose of the survey was to locate, identify and evaluate the significance of any archaeological resources within the proposed project's area of potential environmental effect. This proposed project is one unit of a 41 mile road improvement project between Thomson and Elberton on SR 17. This reevaluation was concerned with the addition right-of-way and minor alignment shifts on the intersecting roads that were not covered during the original surveys. Existing right-of-way on the interesting county roads varies between 60 and 80 feet and a maximum of 130 feet of right-of-way would be required. The proposed changes have been surveyed for cultural resources. An archaeological survey (Level 11) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Division Staff and concuned in by the federal Highway Administration and State Historic Preservation Officer l here guidelines provide general survey boundaries and methodological approaches to archaeological surveys based on the type, scope of work of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register resources were located within the project's area of potential environmental effect. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will have no effect upon archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.