Between January 2008 and September 2009, Environmental Services, Inc. (ESI), on behalf of Martin Marietta Aggregates, Junction City Quarry performed an intensive archaeological assessment survey of the 614-acre quarry expansion parcel and the 82-acre Crawford Tract located in Talbot County Georgia. The goal of the survey was to locate, identify, delineate, and evaluate all cultural resources within the proposed parcels, including prehistoric and historic archaeological sites and historic structures, to comply with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, as amended. The archaeological survey included a pedestrian surface inspection combined with systematic shovel testing at 30 and 90-meter intervals. Delineation shovel tests were dug at 10 and 15-meter intervals. As a result of the survey, seventeen archaeological sites were documented, including: six prehistoric artifact scatters, seven historic artifact scatters (including four with associated standing architecture), three multi component artifact scatters, and one historic cemetery. Eight isolated finds were also documented within the project area. Based on the survey results, 16 of the 17 archaeological sites and each of the eight isolated finds were recommended as not eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP); however, one of the prehistoric archaeological sites contained a high artifact concentration and was exposed to limited hand excavation to evaluate its NRHP eligibility status. Based on the results of the formal excavations, that site is also considered not eligible for NRHP inclusion. Comments received from the USACE and Georgia HPD agreed with the recommendations except for the cemetery and the saddleback structure located within site 9TA151; both agencies recommended these resources be considered NR eligible.
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