Archaeological Reassessment of Project EDS-441(40), Putnam County

In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto, project EDS-441(40), Putnam 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. Project EDS-441(40) would widen and reconstruct US 441/SR 24 in Putnam County, Georgia. The project begins north of Cay Road and terminates at the Eatonton Bypass. The proposed project was subjected to four previous archaeological surveys, one in 1998 by Brockington and Associates, Inc., two in 2001 and one in 2005 by Teresa Lotti (HP# HP980429-008). Since that time, minor easements have been added throughout the project corridor. These easements vary in size with the largest approximately 500' x 100'. An archaeological survey consistent with the proposed project description was conducted along the entire length of the project corridor. An archaeological survey (Level I) was conducted in accordance with "GDOT/FHWA Cultural Resource Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Section Staff and concurred in by the Federal Highway Administration and State Historic Preservation Officer. These guidelines provide general survey boundaries and methodological approaches to archaeological surveys based on the type/scope of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No existing or eligible National Register archaeological 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.