Cultural Resources Survey of the Proposed New Salme Road (Noonday Creek) Bridge Replacement

In January 1997 Brockington and Associates conducted an intensive cultural resources evaluation of the proposed New Salem Road (Noonday Creek) bridge replacement in Cobb County, Georgia. The project area consists of a 12.2 meter (40 feet) wide corridor extending for approximately 30 meters (100 feet) north and south of the existing Noonday Creek bridge. The evaluation of this location consisted of historical background research, archaeological field work, and architectural survey in an effort to determine the presence of significant cultural resources. Background research was conducted at the Georgia State Archives in Atlanta, the Department of Natural Resources (Historic Preservation Division) in Atlanta, and the Georgia State Archaeological Site Files in Athens. Examination of historic maps did not identify any historic resources in the project corridor nor were any previously recorded National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligible historic properties listed with the Historic Preservation Division. No archaeological sites have been recorded within the project area, although an extensive survey of this area was completed in 1990 by Wood and Wood. The Georgia State Archaeological Site Files yielded records on three previously recorded archaeological sites present within two miles of the project corridor. These three sites are all related to Civil War activities in Cobb County and are considered to have significant research potential. Archaeological field survey consisted of the excavation of shovel tests at 30 meter (100 feet) intervals, on both sides of the existing road and bridge. Much of the project corridor has been disturbed by previous road construction/maintenance or drainage ditches. The field survey did not identify any archaeological sites. In addition to the archaeological field survey, an architectural survey of the project area was conducted. No historic structures were observed in the project area. Neither historic background research nor field survey identified any cultural resources within the project corridor. This project has fulfilled the regulatory requirements set forth in Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act (1966, as amended through 1992), and no further evaluation is necessary.