20210446 Ver 1_B-5808 2018-05-11 No Archaeological Survey Required_20220215

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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16-01-00073

NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM
This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not
valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the
Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Project No: Br. Nos. 57 & 59 County: Cabarrus
WBS No: 45762.1.1 Document: CE Or MCC
F.A. No: NHP-0029(062) Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: usace
Project Description: NCDOT proposes to replace Bridge Nos. 57 and 59 on US 29 / US 601 over Irish
Buffalo Creek west of Concord in Cabarrus County. Conceptual design plans suggest the two bridges
would be replaced in-place with a single wider bridge using a phased on-site detour and cross-over during
construction. The project length is about 1200 feet (0.23 miles) with a construction width expanding to the
north about 100 feet beyond the existing western ROW for the on site detour fill and construction. For
purposes of this archaeological review, an earlier study area will be used as the Area of Potential Effects
allowing for a range of design options should they later change. The APE is about 2000 feet (0.38) in length
and 350 feet wide, centered in between the existing structures.
This is a federally funded and permitted undertaking and therefore falls under Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act for archaeological review.
SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
The bridges to be replaced are located along US 29 / US 601 at an urbanized crossroads west of Concord.
Gas stations, shopping centers, commercial and industrial lots are adjacent to the APE, including a likely
concrete mixing plant. Driveways and underground utilities, including installed sewage main lines, are
present. The majority of the APE is considered altered, lessening the archaeological integrity of any
resouces that might otherwise be present.
USGS mapping (Concord) and aerial photography was studied (see Figures 1 and 2). Google and Bing
street view tools were used and confirm the developed and altered nature of the APE. Note that a NC
Highway Historic Marker Program sign (L 44), commemorating Red Hill some 1.5 miles west, is posted
within the APE beside of a utility pole.
According to USGS mapping and GIS resources (data layer created by NCDOT archaeologist Paul J.
Mohler), no cemetery is present at the APE.
Historic maps were examined to determine if any late historic structures, roads or other notations were
present to help establish the a context of the recent past, especially farms, industry, land and transportation
features which might offer hints to the presence of archaeological sites. The 1910 Soils Map of Cabarrus
County (MC.016.1910a) depicts only an earlier version of SR 1394 (Poplar Tent Road / McGill Avenue),
but the equivalent of US 29/US 601 had not been constructed. No other notable features were noted near
the project area on historic mapping with the exception of two buildings assumed to be businesses on 1950
USGS mapping when US 29/US 601 first appears. The bridges were reportedly constructed in 1951.
The Office of State Archaeology was visited to review archaeological mapping and to reference any known
archaeological surveys and sites. This helps establish an archaeological context for comparison. One
environmental review, ER 04-0087, appears to be a sewage easement following Irish Buffalo Creek, though
no archaeological sites were associated with this portion of the review. A short distance west, about 1000
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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feet from the bridges, is site 31Ca308, though it will not be impacted being some distance outside of the
APE. Several other surveys are present in the nearby, even overlapping area, though, if surveyed, no
archaeological sites were identified and recorded.
For this undertaking, a double highway bridge replacement with an on-site detour, the project footprint will
expand. The increase in the construction footprint is likely to occur west of the existing bridges,
overlapping a developed (gas station) lot and sewage easement. The remaining APE has been also modified
through grading, utilities, development and the road construction.
Expectations are low that an intact, significant archaeological site would be affected during the bridge
construction in the APE where soils disturbances area notable. No archaeological survey is recommended
for this undertaking as currently proposed. For archaeological review, the two bridge replacements should
be considered compliant with Section 106.
Brief Explanation of why the available information provides a reliable basis for reasonably predicting
that there are no unidentified historic properties in the APE:
The bridge replacements and on-site detour are located at a developed urban intersection. Most of the
adjacent lots are developed or otherwise considered disturbed. It is unlikely that archaeological remains
are present, especially in the wet soils, and if so, that they would be intact and significant. For
archaeological review, this federally funded and permitted undertaking should be considered compliant
with Section 106.

SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other:
FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED
5/11/2018
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Figure 1. Vicinity of TIP # B-5808, PA 16-01-0073, the proposed replacement of Br. Nos. 57 & 59
on US 29/US 601 over Irish Buffalo Creek west of Concord.
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Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS,
USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User
Community, Copyright:© 2013 National Geographic Society, i-cubed, Esri, HERE,
Garmin, © OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community
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Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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16-01-00073

Figure 2. Aerial map of TIP # B-5808, PA 16-01-0073, the proposed replacement of Br. Nos. 57 &
59 on US 29/US 601 over Irish Buffalo Creek west of Concord. The approximate, generous APE is
shown in yellow. Note the developed properties.
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Irish B
uffalo Creek
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS,
USDA, USGS, AEX, Getmapping, Aerogrid, IGN, IGP, swisstopo, and the GIS User
Community
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