20180201 Ver 1_Bridge 100026 Buncombe Archaeology Form_20180213

Project Tracking No.
13-09-0050

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: County: Buncombe
WBS No: 17BP.13.R.138 Document: State Minimum Criteria Checklist
Federal Aid No: Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE
Project Description:
Replace Bridge 26 on SR 1384 (South Turkey Creek Rd.) over South Turkey Creek in
Buncombe County. Area of Potential Effects (A.P.E.) is approximately 122 meters (400 ft.) long
and 30 meters (100 ft.) wide. No design plans provided. The bridge will be replaced in-place
with an off-site detour or using staged construction. The project is State-funded, will require
Federal permits, and will require easements.

SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
The review included an examination of a topographic map (Sandy Mush, N.C.), and listings of
previously recorded sites, previous archaeological surveys, and previous environmental reviews
at the Office of State Archaeology (O.S.A.). Also, a visual examination of the project area was
conducted on 10/15/2013. The bridge is oriented approximately north-south.

The topographic map shows the bridge is located in a moderately wide creek valley. The
landform in the northwest, northeast and southeast quadrants appears to be a level terrace or
ridge toe. The landform in the southwest quadrant is a narrow strip of land between the road and
the creek. Level, well-drained landforms next to streams have a moderate to high potential for
prehistoric archaeological sites.

A review of information at the O.S.A. shows no previously recorded archaeological sites within
the A.P.E. Site 31BN372 is located on the south side of South Turkey Creek a short distance
east of the A.P.E. There are many previously recorded sites along South Turkey Creek to the
north of the A.P.E. The A.P.E. has not been previously surveyed for archaeological sites. The
A.P.E. is not within any projects that have been reviewed by the State Historic Preservation
Office (HPO).

An archaeological survey was recommended for this project (via e-mail) on 10/11/2013. An
Archaeological Survey Required form was not submitted.

The A.P.E. was visually examined by NCDOT archaeologists Matt Wilkerson and Caleb Smith
on 10/15/2013. The visit found that the landforms within the A.P.E. have a low potential for
archaeological sites. The landforms are much more steeply-sloped than is depicted on the
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Project Tracking No.
13-09-0050
topographic map.

The northwest quadrant is a driveway and residential yard from the bridge north for 15 meters
(50 ft.), then a steep slope uphill to a ridge from 15-100 meters (50-328 ft.) north. The ridge top
is elevated approximately 6 meters (20 ft.) above the road.

The northeast quadrant is a steep slope down to the east to a level floodplain. The floodplain
(pasture) is approximately 6 meters (20 ft.) below the road elevation. Level floodplain is located
outside of the A.P.E. for this project. It appears that the road was built halfway up a sloped
hillside. The northeast quadrant is downhill from the road while the northwest quadrant is uphill
from the road.

The southeast quadrant is a narrow, flat area along the creek from the bridge south for 20 meters
(66 ft.), then a moderately-sloped ridge side slope uphill to the south. The flat area is too narrow
to have much archaeological potential. There is a gravel access road a short distance south of the
bridge.

The southwest quadrant is a steep drop from the road down to the creek. The A.P.E. between the
road and creek is disturbed, sloped roadside. (The road was built halfway up the slope of a ridge
toe; the southeast quadrant is uphill from the road and the southwest quadrant is downhill from
the road.) There is an old (early 1900's?) barn and grain silo located outside of the A.P.E., on the
west side of the creek approximately 60 meters (197 ft.) west of the road.

The recommendation for the bridge replacement project was changed to No Survey Required
based on the visual examination of the A.P.E. The project manager was notified (via e-mail) on
10/17/2013 but a No Archaeological Survey Required form was not submitted.

Brief Explanation of why the available information provides a reliable basis for reasonably
predicting that there are no unidentified historic properties in the APE:
An archaeological survey of the A.P.E. was recommended for the project on 10/11/2013, but the
recommendation was changed to no survey required after a visual examination of the proejct
area. The landforms within the A.P.E. have a low potential for archaeological sites.

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
Caleb Smith 10/10/2017
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST II Date

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“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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A.P.E.
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A.P.E.
Northwest
quadrant
Northeast
quadrant
Southeast
quadrant
Southwest
quadrant
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Figure 1: Southwest view of Bridge 26 in Buncombe County.
Figure 2: West view of the northwest quadrant.
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Figure 3: Northeast view of the northeast quadrant.
Figure 4: South view of the southeast quadrant.
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Figure 5: Southwest view of the southwest quadrant.
Figure 6: North view of the barn and silo near the southwest quadrant.
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