Phase 1 Archaeological Survey of the Proposed Safety Improvements to State Route 136, Pickens County, Georgia

During February 2010, Edwards-Pitman Environmental, Inc. (EPEI) conducted a Phase I archaeological survey for the proposed safety improvements to State Route (SR) 136 in Pickens County, Georgia. The proposed project would consist of safety improvements to the vertical alignment of SR 136 and intersection improvements between the SR 136 Connector and SR 515 in Pickens County. The total project length is approximately 2.7 miles. The width of the area of potential effect (APE) varies, but does not exceed 250 feet. The project was conducted for the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) under a contract with Gresham, Smith and Partners. During the current investigation, one archaeological site was revisited; 9PI108, and 9PI228, 9PI229, and 9PI230 were identified. Two prehistoric isolated finds (IFs), IF-1 and IF-2, were located during the survey, but due to their low research potential, they are recommended as ineligible for the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). Site 9PI108, previously identified as an unknown prehistoric artifact scatter, was revisited by EPEI. The artifact assemblage recovered during the current investigation suggests a lithic work station with a limited ceramic era (post Late Archaic period) occupation. Artifact density at 9PI108 was extremely light but widespread with no indication of future research potential. Based on these results, EPEI recommends that the portion of 9PI108 within the surveyed area does not contribute to the NRHP eligibility of the site. As the site boundaries were not determined to the north, the site is recommended as having unknown eligibility for the NRHP. Site 9PI228 is a historic artifact scatter with an associated standing structure and section of the ca. 1805-10 Federal Road. Based on documentary evidence and historic features visible outside the project limits, the site may retain significant information potential. However, these locations could not be tested during the current undertaking and the site is recommended as having unknown eligibility for the NRHP. The investigated portion of 9PI228 holds little potential for yielding additional significant information and does not contribute to the overall eligibility of the site. However, should it be necessary to extend the project limits beyond the currently surveyed area, it is recommended that additional investigations, including survey and testing, take place at 9PI228. Site 9PI229 consists of an unknown prehistoric and a nineteenth through twentieth century artifact scatter. The historic components may be related to visible historic features outside the survey corridor. Due to the limits of the survey area, the extent of 9PI229 could not be determined. Therefore the site is recommended as having unknown eligibility for the NRHP. Site 9PI230 is an unknown prehistoric lithic scatter consisting of modified quartz cobbles, which may indicate the presence of a prehistoric lithic quarry in the vicinity. Additional investigations in the currently defined survey area would not likely yield significant information pertaining to the eligibility of this site and the site is recommended as having unknown eligibility for the NRHP.