Archaeological Assessment of Project EDS-441 (4), Putnam County

In compliance with Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act of 1966 and amendments thereto, project EDS-441(4), Putnam County has been surveyed with respect to archaeological resources, especially those on or eligible for inclusion in the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP). The purpose of the survey was to locate, identify and evaluate the significance of any archaeological resources within the project corridor. This project is the proposed construction of a by-pass on the west side of Eatonton. The proposed project begins on U.S. 441/S.R. 24, just south of the intersection of U.S. 129/S.R. 44, and ends at U.S. 441/S.R. 44 and the intersection of C.R. 220. The project proposes construction on new location, with required right-of-way 250 feet wide for a distance of 4.8 miles. An archaeological survey (Level III) was conducted within the project corridors in accordance with "GDOT Archaeological Survey Guidelines" developed by the GDOT Staff Archaeologists in consultation with DNR Historic Preservation Section Staff and concurred in by the Federal Highway Administration and State Historic Preservation Officer. These guidelines provide general survey boundaries and methodological approaches to archaeological surveys based on the type/scope of proposed highway projects and are followed during the initial identification of archaeological resources. No significant archaeological resources were located within the proposed project corridor as described in paragraph two above. It is concluded, therefore, that the project will have no effect upon archaeological resources on or eligible for inclusion in the NRHP provided that the project conforms to that described above.