Investigation of the Hancock Borrow Pit Project# BRF-041-1(14), Jefferson County

The archaeological survey of a 0.5 hectare (1.45 acres) borrow source (the Hancock Borrow Pit) for GDOT Project BRF-041-1(14) in Jefferson County (Figure 1), consisted of background research, a pertinent literature search, an intensive pedestrian survey and the excavation of thirteen shovel tests within the proposed borrow area. The goals of the survey were to locate, document, and evaluate all archaeological resources eligible for or listed in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) located within the project's area of potential environmental effect. The survey was conducted in accordance with the "GDOT Archaeological Survey Guidelines: Methods and Rationale" for projects creating major new ground disturbances (Level III Survey). These guidelines were established as a result of past interaction with the State Historic Preservation Officer (SHPO) and her staff and agreed upon by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the SHPO. Prior to field survey a literature search was conducted, state and GDOT archaeological site files were reviewed, and USGS topographic maps and aerial photographs were examined. Subsurface shovel tests measuring 35x35cm were excavated at 20cm intervals to a minimum of 60cm below the surface or to sterile clay subsoils. All excavated fill was screened through 0.25 inch hardware cloth. The borrow area is situated on the east bank of the Ogeechee River north of SR 78 southwest of Wadley. Approximately 75 percent of the project area is steeply to slightly sloping. The remaining 25 percent of the project area is fairly level to gently sloping; this area consists of a field road and an overgrown plowed field. Surface visibility ranged from 75 to 100 percent. The archaeological survey for the proposed borrow area for GDOT Project BRF-041-1(14), Jefferson County, resulted in the discovery of Site 9Je(DOT)5. The approximate limits of the site were defined by a surface check of the general area; the surface scatter of artifacts indicate the majority of this site is in a planted pine field situated on level areas north and west of the proposed borrow area (Figure 2). The more level or flatter terrain near the northern border of the proposed borrow area was tested to document the depth and size and to determine the National Register eligibility of that portion of the site within the proposed borrow area. The results of the testing procedure indicate that a limited and slightly disturbed portion of Site 9Je(DOT)5 is located just inside the north edge of the proposed borrow area. (Additional testing to document the exact site limits and archaeological research potential of Site 9Je(DOT)5 north of the proposed borrow area was not conducted.) The limited surface collection and the subsurface shovel tests resulted in the recovery of 332 artifacts (Table 1). The majority of recovered artifacts consists of secondary chert flakes and shatter (98.5 percent); approximately 2 percent of the artifacts are diagnostic (a triangular Woodland projectile point, two plain sand tempered sherds, two sand tempered simple stamped sherds, and one sand tempered, net-impressed sherd). Results of the shovel testing indicate the portion of the site within the proposed borrow area is fairly well-defined and vertically dispersed through about 80cm of soil. Most of the artifacts (70 percent) were discovered in the upper 40cm of fill material; less than 4 percent were recovered more than 60cm below the surface (Table 1). The data on artifact frequency per level indicate that a majority of artifacts (47 percent) were in the upper 20cm of the site; lesser numbers of artifacts were recovered with each successive depth. A combination of the horizontal and vertical distribution pattern of the recovered artifacts, the lack of cultural features, and the existing landform elevation indicates that the limited portion of Site 9Je(DOT)5 that is within the proposed borrow area has been disturbed and does not contain intact cultural strata. Due to bioturbation, natural erosion and deposition, and the effects of agricultural activities (plowing), it is unlikely that further work at Site 9Je(DOT)5 within the proposed borrow area will discover features or intact cultural strata. It is recommended that the shovel testing of Site 9Je(DOT)5 conducted by GDOT within the proposed borrow area east of the Ogeechee River has effectively mitigated any potential adverse effect related to the proposed project. Areas north and west of the proposed borrow area containing the vast majority of Site 9Je(DOT)5 were not tested. An eligible National Register boundary for this site would be located outside the proposed borrow area. Therefore, since the proposed project's area of potential environmental effect will exclude the untested portion of Site 9Je(DOT)5, the proposed project would not affect the archaeological resource considered potentially eligible for the National Register of Historic Places.