Phase 1 Archaeological Survey for the Dug Gap-Center Point Transmission Line, Whitfield County, Georgia

TRC conducted a Phase I cultural resources survey for the proposed Dug Gap-Center Point TVA transmission line project in Whitfield County, Georgia, south of Dalton, between April 24-28, 2001. The survey included both archaeological and historic structures surveys. The project corridor is seven miles long and ranges in width from 75 to 150 feet. The archaeological survey involved documentation of all archaeological sites and cultural features within the project corridor. Two archaeological sites and one isolated find were identified during the present survey. The isolated find was not recorded as an archaeological site and does not require further work. All three archaeological resources were found near the southern end of the corridor. Site 9WD82 had been previously recorded as a low-density lithic scatter. It was relocated during fieldwork and found to be larger than initially indicated. Furthermore, the site's western boundary was conclusively defined during the current investigations. The site is badly eroded, and its research potential is further limited by low diversity of artifact types. TRC concurs with the earlier recommendation that 9WD82 is not eligible for the NRHP and no further work is needed. Site 9WD133 is the only newly recorded site resulting from this survey. Artifacts were found to a maximum depth of 30 cm below surface on a knoll. Parts of the site are eroded. The artifacts occur in low density, and the site covers a relatively small area. It appears that the site received ephemeral prehistoric use, rather than the intensive type of occupation that results in the presence of features. For these reasons, this site is unlikely to contain intact features and has little research potential. For this reason, TRC recommends the site as not eligible for the NRHP and recommends no further work. The isolated find consists of three flakes recovered from the surface near the southern end of the corridor. No subsurface artifacts were recovered. This was not recorded as an archaeological site and has no research value and requires no further work. On April 25 and 26, 2001, the historic structures survey was carried out in the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the proposed Dug Gap-Center Point transmission line. The APE for the proposed project includes the corridor of the power line itself, and any area visually connected to it. Field methods for the survey involved driving all of the roadways surrounding the project area. All structures that appeared to be 50 years old or older were photographed and marked on the applicable USGS quadrangle maps. Structures that were highly deteriorated were excluded, as were structures whose original form was modified beyond recognition. In all, 17 historic structures were identified within the APE. Five of these had been previously identified during a 1994 survey and recommended eligible or potentially eligible for the NRHP. Based on its survey, TRC recommends four of these five historic structures eligible for the NRHP; the fifth historic structure is recommended ineligible for the NRHP. Of the remaining 12 previously unsurveyed historic structures in the APE, TRC recommends six eligible for the NRHP and six ineligible for the NRHP. No further work is warranted for the six ineligible structures. Thus a total of 10 historic resources in the APE are recommended eligible for the NRHP. It appears that the proposed project will create an adverse effect on two of the ten historic structures recommended NRHP-eligible because of their location directly adjacent to the proposed transmission line corridor. It is recommended that mitigation measures be developed in coordination with the Georgia SHPO to address these adverse effects. As for the remaining eight recommended-eligible structures, it appears that the proposed project will create no adverse effects. TRC recommends no further work on these eight structures.