Archeological Survey of the East Lake Road-Jackson Creek 230 kV Transmission Line, Henry and Rockdale Counties, Georgia

In June and July of 2008 and in February of 2009, Southeastern Archeological Services, Inc. conducted a Phase I archeological survey of approximatelyl3.5 km (8.4 mi) of a proposed 230 kV transmission line corridor in northern Henry and southern Rockdale County, Georgia for the Georgia Transmission Corporation (GTC). The proposed line begins at the existing East Lake Road Substation in Henry County and ends at the existing Jackson Creek Substation in Rockdale County. About half of the proposed line (6.1 km) will parallel an existing transmission line, while 2.9 km of it will follow roads and a remaining 4.5 km will run cross country. Surface exposure was generally poor in the project corridor, which was mostly wooded or in pasture. Consequently, the archeological survey primarily relied on shovel testing to detect sites. For the most part, shovel tests were placed in one transect along the proposed centerline. Once a site was detected, it was investigated with more shovel tests along the corridor length at 10- or 20-m intervals (depending on the anticipated size of the site) and with one or more perpendicular transects of shovel tests to explore site width. Some of the sites extended beyond the width of the transmission line corridor. Because it was beyond the scope of the survey, we did not investigate those portions of the sites. We discovered and recorded 15 archeological sites in the currently proposed corridor (Table 1). Due to severe disturbance caused by plowing and erosion and low research potential, we recommend that all but two of the sites are not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. Prehistoric site 9HY471 has a Late Mississippian (Lamar) component and sufficient artifact density to suggest the presence of features. Prehistoric site 9HY489 has a small, but dense, cluster of Woodland period pottery in a relatively intact creek-side setting. If these sites posses features and meaningful artifact distributions, they could provide important information about Woodland through Mississippian period prehistoric occupation in the South River valley area. However, since this research potential has not been firmly demonstrated, we recommend that sites 9HY471 and 9HY489 are potentially eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places. The precise dimensions of site 9HY471 and site 9HY489 have been submitted to GTC so that they can design the line to minimize effects to the site. There will be no structures (poles) placed within the site boundaries. GTC intends to hand clear the corridor within the site limits and ensure that no earth-disturbing activity on the sites occurs during construction of the line. Thus, the two sites will be preserved in place in accordance with policies and procedures developed by GTC in accord with the Georgia State Historic Preservation Office. Providing that the measures outlined above to avoid adverse effects to sites 9HY471 and 9HY489 are followed, the construction and maintenance of the East Lake Road to Jackson Creek 230 kV transmission line will not result in any adverse effects to important archeological resources.