Phase I Archaeological Survey for the City of Douglasville Sidewalks, Douglas County, Georgia

The Georgia Department of Transportation proposes to construct sidewalks along four roads in the City of Douglasville, Douglas County, Georgia. Sidewalks are to be added on one side of each road within the existing right-of-way. Since at least some of these areas appeared to have the potential for reasonably undisturbed environments, a cultural resources survey was required. This report documents the design and results of this archaeological survey. It is designed to be in accordance with the requirements of and the regulations implementing Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 as amended in 1980 and 1992, the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969, the Archeological and Historic Preservation Act of 1974, the Georgia Environmental Policy Act of 1991, and Section 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act of 1966. On 20 December, 2007, personnel from Ground Truth Research conducted a survey for archaeological resources in the areas intended to be impacted by sidewalk construction. The fieldwork was preceded by a literature review of documents housed at the Georgia State Site Files in Athens, the University of Georgia Library and Special Collections in Athens, and resources maintained at the offices of Ground Truth Research in Decatur. Sidewalks are to be constructed along four roads within Douglasville. North of the city center, the project area extends along Dallas Highway (SR 92) from Brown Street to Malone Road (approximately 0.6 km, 0.4 miles). From this intersection, the project area continues along Malone Road east to the intersection with Hunters Ridge Drive (approximately 1.1 km, 0.7 miles). South of the city center and Interstate 20, sidewalks are proposed along Arbor Parkway from Bill Arp Road (SR 5) to Parkway Circle (approximately 1.1 km, 0.7 miles). An additional upgrade is proposed along Stewart Parkway from its intersection with Bill Arp Road to a point approximately half-way along its length towards the Douglas Boulevard intersection (approximately 0.4 km, 0.3 miles). All areas intended to be impacted by sidewalk construction were examined by means of testing and surface examination within the existing right-of-way. The area of potential effect of the construction would be restricted to the limits of the existing right-of-way. Only direct effects are considered as indirect and cumulative effects are beyond the scope of this project. Available surface exposures were examined and subsurface tests were excavated when these exposures were insufficient. A total of 6 shovel tests was excavated within the primary impact areas. As a result of these investigations, three isolated finds, two prehistoric and one historic, were located on the surface. These finds occurred in insufficient density to be designated as archaeological sites. No significant archaeological resources were discovered within the area of potential effect for the proposed sidewalk construction. None of the remains examined retain the integrity to be eligible under any criterion for a National Register property. As isolates are deemed ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places by definition, no further work should be required and it is recommended that the proposed undertaking as described above be permitted to proceed.