Investigating Dahlonega\u27s Historic Yahoola High Trestle (9LU52, The Hand-Ditch)

Within the Dahlonega city limits, on the wooded, hilly banks of Yahoola Creek, sits the Yahoola High Trestle site (9LU52, The Hand-Ditch). The Yahoola High Trestle was constructed in 1859 by the Consolidated Gold Mining Company. The Trestle sat 240 feet high and spanned 1,000 feet across Yahoola Creek in order to transport water into the city to supply a hydraulic mining system. This paper discusses UNG student excavations at the trestle site. During the fall of 2015 and spring of 2016, the site was cleared exposing the foundation platforms after which a detailed survey grid was established for the site. Several excavation units were placed along a section of the Trestle\u27s original foundation to better understand the structure’s architecture. Results of this excavation have uncovered artifacts such as structural hardware including nails and bolts. These artifacts attest the significance of the logistical networks of north Georgia during the gold rush period. This research will continue through April 2016 and contributes a greater insight into the rich history of the gold mining era in the north Georgia mountains

Exploring the Yahoola High Trestle: Industrial Archaeology in Dahlonega, Georgia

Archaeological exploration at the Yahoola High Trestle site in Dahlonega Georgia explored the construction, use, and abandonment of an important component of America’s first gold rush. This trestle was a structure that supplied high-pressure water to hydraulic mining operations in Dahlonega, Georgia, facilitating large-scale mining operations during the industrialization of America. This poster presents the results of archaeological excavations conducted in 2015 and 2016 by student volunteers and members of the local community. These excavations confirm that the trestle was not as substantial as it was originally intended and was systematically disassembled after it became obsolete. Furthermore, this poster demonstrates the utility of archaeological field research to engage students in a meaningful manner, encouraging critical thinking while contributing to community heritage