Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed Moultrie Wastewater Treatment Facility Expansion, Colquitt County, Georgia

Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc., completed an archeological survey of a ca. 66-ha (162-ac) tract of land on the southwest edge of Moultrie on which the City of Moultrie wishes to expand its existing wastewater treatment facility. Since federal funds may be used for the project, compliance with the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended, was required. One facet of this compliance is to assess the effects of the project on significant cultural resources. This report presents the results of an archeological and historic resources survey, which was conducted from September 22 through October 3, 2008. The goals of the survey were to first, locate, delineate, describe and evaluate archeological sites in the project tract, which occupies low-lying land on the east side of the Ochlocknee River, and second, to document standing structures older than 50 years within the viewshed of the project. We consulted the Georgia Archaeological Site Files and various archival and cartographic sources to determine if any archeological sites or former houses were known for the project area. None were. We then visually inspected the entire tract for evidence of sites and excavated about 120 shovel tests to recover artifacts indicative of buried sites. In addition, we excavated another 115 shovel tests at archeological sites and artifact occurrences. Six archeological sites and two artifact occurrences (isolated artifacts) were discovered. All six sites are composed of sparse scatters of prehistoric lithic debris that occurs in the top 15 to 40 cm of soil. One site also yielded two small fragments of Late Woodland (Weeden Island) pottery. Most shovel tests yielded only one or two artifacts. We recommend that all six sites and two artifact occurrences are ineligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places because none are likely to yield important new information on the prehistory of the region (criterion d). Our survey also documented that one wastewater treatment facility structure is 50 years old, this being a facility building constructed in 1939. It was significantly remodeled, expanded and modernized shortly before 1984. We conclude that this structure fails to retain sufficient integrity to allow its listing on the National Register of Historic Places. Two houses of modem appearance but potentially 50 years old are within view of the project area. We were unable to firmly document the construction dates of these two houses, as owners were not available and tax records do not record construction dates. We conclude that one house is most likely completely modern, having replaced an earlier house, while the other is a remodeled and expanded version of the original house. Neither house is a defined type and both fail to retain sufficient integrity to warrant inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. We conclude that no historic resources eligible for listing on the National Register lie within or within view of the project area. Thus, we recommend that no significant cultural resources (that is, archeological sites or historic structures eligible for the National Register) will be affected by the proposed undertaking and that the project be granted clearance to proceed.