Revised: An Intensive Cultural Resource Assessment Survey of the Old Waterworks Park, Old Bibb Mill, and Otis Redding Loop Segments of the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail, Bibb County, Georgia

Between June 2007 and February 2008, Environmental Services, Inc. (ESI) performed an intensive cultural resource assessment survey of three parcels tethered to the Ocmulgee Heritage Trail (OHT) in Bibb County, Georgia. These three parcels are referred to as the Old Waterworks Park, the Otis Redding Loop, and the Old Bibb Mill. The goal of these surveys was to locate, identify, delineate, and evaluate all cultural resources within the parcels, including prehistoric and historic archaeological sites. Neither the Otis Redding Loop nor the Old Bibb Mill segments of the proposed OHT revealed any cultural deposits. Accordingly, the results from those investigations have been synthesized in "GDOT Archaeological Report Short Forms for Negative Findings," as presented in Appendices G and H of this report. Subsequent to the implementation of the survey, these three projects were combined under one project number by GDOT, who also recommended that they be reported in this single document. Historic structures and architectural feature identified within the three properties have been documented in separate "history" reports, per Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) guidelines. The cultural resource assessment survey of the Old Waterworks Park included a pedestrian inspection combined with systematic shovel testing at 15 and 30-meter intervals. As a result of the survey, seven new archaeological sites were recorded (six of which are reported in this document), and seven isolated finds were documented and the periphery of a previously documented prehistoric burial site was visited. Five of the newly documented archaeological sites contained prehistoric pottery and lithics. One site is a prehistoric encampment that was occupied briefly during the Late Archaic/Early Woodland Periods and more extensively during the Late Mississippian, and likely during the Historic Aboriginal Period. Based on the site's size and artifact density (n=373), it is possible that cultural features and areas of intact occupational strata exist. As such, the site is considered potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) and avoidance or further work at the Phase II level is recommended to evaluate the site's eligibility status. The other four newly recorded prehistoric sites are low density artifact scatters within a disturbed/scoured context, and none of these require any further archaeological considerations. One previously recorded Native American burial site (containing two skeletons) was documented adjacent to the property. The site form for this site was completed by Teri Smith in 1981; however, its submittal was based on information derived from the excavation work, which was completed during the summer of 1954 by Joseph R. Caldwell, Gustavus D. Pope, Jr., and the land owner, John T. Pellew. The Norfolk Southern rail line runs along the western boundary of the Old Waterworks Park property, and these two skeletons were identified within a cut along the southwestern railroad right-of-way cut, likely about 20 meters outside of the current property. No evidence was obtained during the current study to suggest that this site extended into the present property. Two historic sites were also recorded within the project tract. One represents a small segment of the former water treatment plant that serviced the city of Macon. The water treatment plant had sustained severe damages from Tropical Storm Alberto and subsequent flooding in 1994 and as a result was permanently closed and has since been leveled. The boundaries of this site correspond with one small area where artifacts were documented; however, based on aerial photograph inspection and information derived from local informants, the plant site was known to be much larger than what was recorded as an archaeological site. One site is a 4 meter wide by 20 meter long concrete and metal bridge that was built in 1938; it was constructed during the WPA era and was recorded as a site; however, it was formally reported in a separate document that pertains to the history of the property, and is not discussed in detail in this manuscript. No further work or archaeological considerations are recommended for the waterworks site. Seven isolated finds were also documented during the study, including six that were prehistoric and one that was historic. No further archaeological considerations are recommended for any of these resources.