Report of Cultural Resources Assessment of the Proposed New Crossroads Church Coweta, County, Georgia

MACTEC Engineering and Consulting, Inc. (MACTEC), was contracted by Joel E. Aycock, P.C., to provide a cultural resources assessment of the proposed New Crossroads Baptist Church in Coweta County, Georgia. The proposed project may potentially impact an existing wetland, and may require a permit from the U.S . Army Corps of Engineers. If a federal permit is required, the proposed project will constitute a federal undertaking as defined under 36CFR part 800.16(y). As part of this cultural resources assessment, a review of the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the Georgia Archaeological Site File, The National Archaeological Database Bibliography, historic maps, and aerial photographs was conducted. Field survey methods consisted of pedestrian reconnaissance, surface observation and the excavation of shovel tests in areas considered conducive to human habitation (i.e. less than 10 percent slope). Five (5) archaeological sites were identified within the proposed project boundaries as a result of the cultural resource assessment. Four (4) of these archaeological sites (9CW188, 9CW189, 9CW190 and 9CW192) appear to possess little potential for yielding information and have been recommended as ineligible for inclusion in the NRHP. Site 9CW188 consists of a sparse surface scatter of aboriginal pottery and lithic debitage but close interval shovel testing indicated there was little potential for the existence of subsurface features. Sites 9CW189, 9CW190 and 9CW192 are rock piles in association with agricultural terraces and are believed to be historic in origin and hold little research potential. These sites are not considered eligible for inclusion in the NRHP. Site 9CW 191 appears to be a morphologically unique rock pile and is therefore recommended as potentially eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion D, Information Potential. A voidance is recommended for this archaeological site. If the proposed project cannot avoid Site 9CW 191, then phase II testing is recommended prior to any construction that might adversely affect this resource. One (1) historic standing structure, CW -627, is considered eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion C, Design/Construction. Although not within the proposed project boundaries, this resource is within the Area of Potential Effects (APE) for viewshed effects and it is recommended that a vegetative screen be maintained between this resource and activities associated with the proposed project. One ( 1) historic railroad, the Central of Georgia was also identified. This historic railroad is considered eligible for inclusion in the NRHP under Criterion A, Association with a Significant Event in Georgia's history. Although the Central of Georgia Railroad serves as most of the northern boundary for the proposed project, it will not be adversely affected by the proposed project because project activities will not alter any of the characteristics that qualify the railroad for inclusion in the NRHP. Based on this information, and provided that the stakeholders enter into a Memorandum of Agreement with the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) regarding the steps that must be taken to avoid Site 9CW 191 and to screen Architectural Resource CW -627 from activities associated with the proposed project, a Finding of Historic Properties Affected-Conditional No Adverse Effect is recommended.