APPENDIX G - Cultural Resources Survey

APPENDIX G - CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY
Summary Report:
A Phase I Remote -Sensing Archaeological Survey of
A Proposed Borrow Site off Buxton
Dare County, North Carolina
48
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51.
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42
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[Detail of 1921 U.S. Coast & Geodetic Chart No. 1232 (Courtesy of the NOAA Historical Map & Chart Collection)]
Prepared for:
US Army Corps of Engineers -Wilmington District
Washington NC Field Office
2407 West 5" Street
Washington, NC 27889
and
National Park Service — US Department of Interior
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC 27954
Prepared by:
Tidewater Atlantic Research, Inc.
PO Box 2494, Washington, NC 27889
30 July 2021

Preliminary Technical Report Entitled:
A Phase I Remote -Sensing Archaeological Survey of
A Proposed Borrow Site off Buxton
Dare County, North Carolina
Prepared for:
US Army Corps of Engineers -Wilmington District
Washington NC Field Office
2407 West 5" Street
Washington, NC 27889
and
National Park Service — US Department of Interior
Cape Hatteras National Seashore
1401 National Park Drive
Manteo, NC 27954
Submitted by:
e4w'�
Gordon P. Watts, Jr., Ph.D, RPA
Principal Investigator
Tidewater Atlantic Research, Inc.
P. O. Box 2494
Washington, North Carolina 27889
Submittal Date:
30 July 2021

Abstract
Coastal Science and Engineering (CSE) of Columbia, South Carolina is working with the Dare County
Board of Commissioners to identify and permit a sand source for the beach restoration project on Hatteras
Island where erosion threatens Highway 12. The proposed project is intended to widen the oceanfront beach
and provide an erosion buffer to reduce chronic highway damage and maintain county infrastructure. The
primary borrow source has been identified as a shoal located 2.2 miles offshore of the Cape Hatteras
Lighthouse. In order to determine any effect on potentially significant submerged cultural resources, CSE
contracted with Tidewater Atlantic Research (TAR) of Washington, North Carolina to conduct a submerged
cultural resource remote -sensing survey of the proposed borrow site. Work performed by TAR consisted
of a background literature survey, historical research, and cartographical investigation. Field investigations
focused on the remote -sensing survey. Due to long-standing adverse weather, remote -sensing survey
operations off Hatteras were not initiated until 26 May and were not completed until 24 July 2021. Analysis
of the magnetic and acoustic data from the Buxton borrow site identified a total of 18 magnetic anomalies.
Fifteen anomalies were identified south of the buffer area and appear to represent fragments of cable.
Historical research suggests that the source of those magnetic anomalies could be associated with telegraph
cables or post -World War 11 acoustic transducer cables. The remaining three anomalies include one north
of the buffer area, one at the eastern perimeter of the buffer, and one inside the dredge perimeter. The
magnetic anomaly inside the borrow site and the anomaly inside the buffer represent very small ferrous
objects. Neither appears to represent a potentially significant submerged cultural resource and neither is
recommended for avoidance. None of the magnetic signatures are suggestive of complex vessel remains.
Analysis of the acoustic data identified no evidence of sonar targets in the Buxton survey area.
Consequently, no potentially significant submerged cultural resources will be impacted by dredging in the
proposed borrow area or the adjacent buffer.
This is the summary report of the archeological survey. A detailed report will be available and submitted
to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office for review and comment. The results, finding, and
no avoidance recommendations in the full report are expected to be consistent with this summary report.

Table of Contents
Abstract..........
List of Figures
List of Tables.
Introduction....
Project Personnel ............................
Project Location
Magnetic Data Analysis ...........................
Acoustic Data Analysis ............................
Conclusions ..............................................
Unexpected Discovery Protocol ...............
Attachment A: Magnetic Anomaly Table
................................................IV
................................................................. 1
................................................................. 1
................................................................. 2
................................................................. 4
................................................................. 6
................................................................. 7
................................................................. 7
................................................................. 8

List of Figures
Page
Figure 1. Buxton Project location on NOAA Chart #11555-1......................................................................2
Figure 2. Buxton borrow site and 200-foot buffer with buffer points........................................................... 3
Figure 3. Buxton survey tracklines............................................................................................................... 4
Figure 4. Buxton survey area magnetic anomalies....................................................................................... 5
Figure 5. Buxton survey area sonar coverage mosaic................................................................................... 6

iv
List of Tables
Page
Table 1. NCSP coordinates for Buxton survey area................................................................................

Introduction
Coastal Science and Engineering (CSE) of Columbia, South Carolina is working with the Dare County
Board of Commissioners to identify and permit a sand source for the beach restoration project on Hatteras
Island where erosion threatens Highwayl2. The primary borrow source has been identified as a shoal
located 2.2 miles offshore of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse. In order to determine any effect on potentially
significant submerged cultural resources, CSE contracted with Tidewater Atlantic Research (TAR) of
Washington, North Carolina to conduct a submerged cultural resource remote -sensing survey of the
proposed borrow site.
The remote -sensing investigation conducted by TAR was designed to provide accurate and reliable
identification, assessment and documentation of submerged cultural resources in the study area. The
assessment methodology was developed to comply with the criteria of the National Historic Preservation
Act of 1966 (Public Law 89-665), the National Environmental Policy Act of 1969 (Public Law 11-190),
Executive Order 11593, the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation Procedures for the protection of
historic and cultural properties (36 CFR Part 800), the updated guidelines described in 36 CFR 64 and 36
CFR 66, Archaeological Resource Protection Act (16 USC 470), "Abandoned Shipwreck Law" (North
Carolina General Statute [NCGS] 121, article 3), and the North Carolina Archaeological Resources
Protection Act (NCGS 70, article 2). The results of the investigation were designed to furnish CSE with the
archaeological data required to comply with State and Federal submerged cultural resource legislation and
regulations.
Field investigations focused on a remote -sensing survey carried out with magnetic and acoustic remote -
sensing equipment. Due to long-standing adverse weather, remote -sensing survey operations off Hatteras
were not initiated until 26 May and were not completed until 24 July 2021. To reliably identify anomalies
associated with submerged cultural resources, survey equipment included both magnetic and acoustic
remote sensing employing a magnetometer, sidescan sonar, and sub -bottom profiler. Navigation and data
collection was accomplished using differential global positioning and survey software.
Analysis of the magnetic and acoustic data from the Buxton borrow site identified a total of 18 magnetic
anomalies. Fifteen magnetic anomalies were identified south of the buffer area and appear to represent
fragments of cable. Historical research suggests that the source of those anomalies could be associated with
telegraph or post -World War 11 acoustic transducer cables. The remaining three magnetic anomalies include
one north of the buffer area, one at the eastern perimeter of the buffer, and one inside the dredge perimeter.
The anomaly inside the borrow site and the anomaly inside the buffer represent very small ferrous objects.
Neither appears to represent a potentially significant submerged cultural resource and neither is
recommended for avoidance. None of the magnetic signatures are suggestive of complex vessel remains.
Analysis of the acoustic data identified no evidence of sonar targets in the Buxton survey area.
Consequently, no potentially significant submerged cultural resources will be impacted by dredging in the
proposed borrow area or the adjacent buffer.
Project Personnel
TAR project field personnel included principal archaeological investigator Gordon P. Watts, Jr. and
archaeologist/remote-sensing operators Ralph Wilbanks and John Morris. Senior historian Robin Arnold
carried out the historical and literature research. Dr. Watts analyzed the remote -sensing data. Dr. Watts and
Ms. Arnold prepared this report.

z
Project Location
The survey site under investigation lies in the Atlantic Ocean 2.2 miles offshore of the Village of Buxton's
shoreline in Dare County, North Carolina (Figure 1).
3MOM 3dW 000 304SON 3M000 M55W
r 3+9
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" 3035000 3040000 3045000 305000D 3055000
Figure 1. Buxton Project location on NOAA Chart #11555-1.
e
The proposed borrow area, including a 200-foot buffer, is a polygon 3,860 feet in north-northeast to south-
southwest length and 3,575 feet in east-southeast to west-northwest width. The buffered survey area
encompasses a total of 264 acres and .41 square statute miles. North Carolina State Plane (NCSP), NAD
83, U.S. Survey Foot geographical coordinates for the survey area are shown in Figure 2 and Table 1.

40 45 33 51
42 29
47
E
32
Figure 2. Buxton borrow site and 200-foot buffer with buffer points.
Point
X Coordinate
Y Coordinate
A
3049771.7
568930.7
B
3053071.9
568696.
C
3051697.4
565112.
D
3050804.4
565591.9
E
3049137.3
565784.7
F
3048190.9
565332.3
Table 1. NCSP coordinates for Buxton survey area.
To ensure sufficient data would be available to locate any potentially significant magnetic anomalies and
sonar targets in the project area, remote -sensing data were collected along parallel lanes spaced on 100-foot
intervals (Figure 3). The area surveyed also included a 200-foot buffer zone so that those anomalies and/or
targets located along the periphery of the borrow area could be identified and the impact from dredging
assessed.

4
+
+ +
+
+
N +
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ +
+
+
+
0
6 500 1,000 1,500 2, 0
+
Feet
+
+
+
Y4900D 395onao W51000 3052Wo 34
Figure 3. Buxton survey tracklines.
Magnetic Data Analysis
Analysis of the magnetic data from the Buxton survey site identified a total of 18 magnetic anomalies
(Figure 4; Attachment A). Fifteen of those anomalies were identified south of the buffer area and appear to
represent fragments of cable. Historical research suggests that the source of those anomalies could be
associated with telegraph or post -World War II acoustic transducer cables. The remaining three anomalies
include one north of the buffer area, one at the eastern perimeter of the buffer, and one inside the dredge
perimeter. The anomaly inside the borrow site and the anomaly inside the buffer represent very small
ferrous objects. Neither appears to represent a potentially significant submerged cultural resource and
neither is recommended for avoidance. None of the magnetic signatures are suggestive of complex vessel
remains.

3048000 3049000 306-0000 3051000 3052000 3[
3
N
+ + + + + +
45
1.
33
+ + + + v +
+
+ +
+
+
+
2-nm7.3U-75.6
+
000-1d .70741
29
+
+
IW
+
+
+
+
010-1-n m-LMg-2i 8
a-3@7
J-d .7'
23-- :p- ._275.
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=-prc-'3.4y 4=
018-1-n -Prc- D. 3; - Y..3=
03°- - rr-3^. ,� F'
3_-1dp-22.49-282.2F
3-227--
0 :p-29 -332 �
dp-31.9g-297.8F
+
+ +
032-1d+17.4g126.9F
+
+
25G 5GG
2.GGG
Feet
+
+
+
+
+
29
4.5
3"9DOO 3050004 3051000 3052000 3[
Figure 4. Buxton survey area magnetic anomalies.

0
Acoustic Data Analysis
Analysis of the acoustic data identified no evidence of sonar targets in the Buxton survey area (Figure 5).
3D4940a 3049000 3450000 3051000 3052000 W53000
N
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+ 3 + +
+ +
25G 500 2,OOG
Feet
+
+ +
+ +
29
4,5
3049000 3050000 3051000 M52000 3[
Figure 5. Buxton survey area sonar coverage mosaic.

7
Conclusions
The coastal waters off the Outer Banks of North Carolina have one of the highest documented
concentrations of shipwrecks in the western Atlantic. The moniker "Graveyard of the Atlantic" is well
earned. Hundreds of vessels have been reported lost off the Outer Banks and especially near Cape Hatteras.
Weather, currents, natural magnetic anomalies, and shoals make navigation along the Outer Banks and
specifically off Cape Hatteras hazardous even today. For over 500 years, human error and warfare
compounded dangers associated with the natural environment. Although the project survey site lies within
an area of high sensitivity for historic shipwrecks, no extant wreck remains are included in the North
Carolina Underwater Archaeology Branch (UAB) site files curated at Kure Beach (Nathan Henry to Robin
Arnold, elec. comm., 22 July 2021). The primary reason is no doubt a direct function of the fact that a
limited number of systematic remote -sensing surveys have been carried out in the Cape Hatteras vicinity.
Analysis of the magnetic and acoustic data from the Buxton borrow site identified a total of 18 magnetic
anomalies. Fifteen anomalies were identified south of the buffer area and appear to represent fragments of
cable. Historical research suggests that the source of those magnetic anomalies could be associated with
telegraph cables or post -World War II acoustic transducer cables. The remaining three anomalies include
one north of the buffer area, one at the eastern perimeter of the buffer, and one inside the dredge perimeter.
The magnetic anomaly inside the borrow site and the anomaly inside the buffer represent very small ferrous
objects. Neither appears to represent a potentially significant submerged cultural resource and neither is
recommended for avoidance. None of the magnetic signatures are suggestive of complex vessel remains.
Analysis of the acoustic data identified no evidence of sonar targets in the Buxton survey area.
Consequently, no potentially significant submerged cultural resources will be impacted by dredging in the
proposed borrow area or the adjacent buffer.
Unexpected Discovery Protocol
Data generated by this survey does not identify any historical shipwrecks or other submerged cultural
resources. However, in the event that any project activities expose potential prehistoric or historic cultural
material, the dredge company under contract to Dare County should immediately shift operations away
from the site and notify the respective Point of Contact for the Dare County Commissioners (Manteo NC),
the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (Raleigh NC), the UAB (Kure Beach NC), and CSE
(Columbia SC). Notification should address the exact location, where possible, the nature of material
exposed by project activities, and options for immediate archaeological inspection and assessment of the
site(s).

Attachment A: Magnetic Anomaly Table
Anomaly
X
Line#
Anomaly#
Signature
Gammas
Duration
Identification
Assessment
006-1-dp-27.7g-97.7f
3049159.4
566918.3
6
1
Dipolar
27.7g
97.7f
Small Ferrous Object
Not Significant
010-1-nm-65g-218f
3049049,9
565516.2
10
1
Negative Monopolar
65g
21Bf
Cable
Not Significant
011-1dp-24.6g-200.Sf
30491% 1
565489.2
11
1
Dipolar
24.6g
200 8f
Cable
Not Significant
014-1dp-17.9g-160.lf
30494598
565409.6
14
1
Dipolar
17.9g
160.1f
Cable
Not Significant
015-1-pm-14.4g-150.1f
3049570 8
565461
15
1
Positive Monopolar
14.4g
150.1f
Cable
Not Significant
018-1-nm-17.8g-114.9f
3049866.9
1 565405
18
1
Negative Monopolar
17.8g
114.9f
Cable
Not Significant
019-1dp-26.Bg-307.7f
3049996,3
565425.6
19
1
Dipolar
26.8g
307.7f
Cable
Not Significant
022-1-pm-13.4g-188.4f
3050318,9
565429.5
22
1
Positive Monopolar
13.4g
188.4f
Cable
Not Significant
023-1dp-22.3g-278.1f
30503973
565"
23
1
Dipolar
22.3g
278.1f
Cagle
Not Significant
027-1-pm-40.3g-105.3f
3050766,1
565205.4
27
1
Positive Monopolar
40.3g
105.3f
Cable
Not Significant
030-1-pm-22.2g-214.6f
3051071,4
565190.5
30
1
Positive Monopolar
22.2g
214.6f
Cable
Not Significant
031-1dp-29.5g-332.3f
3051184,2
565182.4
31
1 1
Dipolar
29.5g
332.3f
Cable
Not Significant
032-1dp-17.4g-126.9f
30512636
565124.2
32
1
Dipolar
17.4g
126.91'
Cable
Not Significant
033-1dp-29.9g-113.7f
3052857,5
569001.3
33
1
Dipolar
29.9g
113.7f
Small Ferrous Object
Not Significant
034-1-dp-31.9g-297.8f
3051482,3
565141.5
34
1
Dipolar
31.9g
297.8f
Cable
Not Significant
035-1-pm-36.3g-246.5f
3051587,1
565141.2
35
1
Positive Monopolar
36.3g
246.5f
Cable
Not Significant
0X1dp-22.4g-282.2f
3051678,3
565094.8
36
1
Dipolar
224g
282.2f
Cable
Not Significant
036-2-nm-7.3g-75.6f
3052513,2
567264.6
36
2
Negative Monopolar
7,3g
75,6f
Small Ferrous Object
Not Significant