Archaeological Investigations of Georgia Department of Transportation Project #RR-0001-01(001), The Augusta Railroad Demonstration Project, Richmond County, Georgia and Aiken County, South Carolina

"This report describes the archaeological investigations of the Augusta Railroad Demonstration Project (GDOT Project #RR-0001-Ol(OOl)) in Richmond County, Georgia, and Aiken County, South Carol ina. Project, environmental, historical, and archaeological backgrounds are given and the archaeological research design, describing purpose and methodology, is set forth. Survey results are described and interpreted and National Register determination requests are made and mitigation discussed. The survey, which was conducted in both reconnaissance and intensive phases, led to the discovery and interpretation of thirty-six historic and prehistoric archaeological sites. Of these, eleven are recommended by the survey archaeologist as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places and a district determination is sought which will include twenty-nine of the thirty-six sites. In addition, a two-phase mitigation plan is proposed which will call for controlled surface collecting and testing followed by extensive excavation on several of the sites."