20191723 Ver 1_AR16-10-0019nosurvey_20191216

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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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: B-4977 County: Wilkes
WBS No: 39896.1.1 Document: PCE
F.A. No: BRZ-1313(4) Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP# 3

Project Description:
The project calls for the replacement of Bridge No. 75 on SR 1313 (Congo Road) over Fish Dam Creek in
Wilkes County. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the project is defined as a 600-
foot (182.88 m) long corridor extending 300 feet (91.44 m) west and 300 feet southeast along Congo
Road from the center of the bridge. A second corridor located just east of the bridge extends 300 feet
northeast along Fish Dam Creek Road from its intersection with Congo Road. Both corridors are
approximately 100 feet (30.48 m) wide extending 50 feet (15.24 m) on either side of the roads from their
present center.

SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
The Bridge No. 75 replacement project is west of Wilkesboro and just north of the W. Kerr Scott
Reservoir on the Yadkin River in western Wilkes County, North Carolina. The project area is plotted
near the southwestern edge of the Wilkesboro USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle (Figure 1).

A map review and site file search was conducted at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on October
17, 2016. No previously recorded archaeological resources are within the APE or a mile radius of the
bridge. According to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office online data base (HPOWEB
2016), there are no known historic architectural resources within the APE that may yield intact
archaeological deposits. Topographic maps, USDA soil survey maps, aerial photographs (NC One Map),
historic maps (North Carolina maps website), and Google Street View application were utilized to gage
environmental factors that may have contributed to prehistoric or historic settlement within the project
limits and to assess the level of ground disturbance.

Bridge 75 is position east to west over Fish Dam Creek. Congo Road from the west runs east and curves
to the southeast after crossing the bridge. Fish Dam Creek Road intersection with Congo Road is just east
of the bridge and curves to the northeast. Fish Dam Creek is part of the Yadkin-Pee Dee drainage basin.
The APE is situated primarily along steep hillside slopes, but a small portion just west of Fish Dam Creek
Road and north of the bridge resides along a floodplain and high stream terrace (Figure 2). A seasonal
drainage also runs alongside southwestern edge of Congo Road. The hillside within the APE is forested,
while the floodplain and terrace are used for pasture. Ground disturbance consists of cut and graded
hillsides to allow for the current roads. Other disturbances include a private drive southwest of the bridge
that runs along the western bank of the creek and a road trace northwest of the bridge.

According to the USDA soil survey map, Rion fine sandy loam (RnE) composes most of the APE (see
Figure 2). This series makes up the hillsides and is considered well drained with a steep slope of 25 to 60
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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percent. Slope of 15 percent or more is very unlikely to yield significant archaeological sites and
therefore not usually tested. The floodplain north of the bridge consists of Chewacla loam (CkA). This
series is typically somewhat poorly drained with a slope of less than 2 percent. It is also subject to
frequent flooding for brief periods. This soil series is generally not well suited for early and important
settlement activities due to flooding and persistent wetness. Finally, Masada sandy clay loam (MaB2) is
located along the stream terrace at the northeastern end and covers a very minor area. Although well
drained and gently sloping with 2 to 8 percent, the series is eroded. It is improbable that intact and
significant deposits are present due to this disturbance.

A review of the site files show that Bridge 75 was included in part of a study area for The Cultural
Resources Survey of the Boone Lateral Natural Gas Pipeline from North Wilkesboro to Boone in 2001
carried out by Brockington and Associates, Inc. Although the current project area was covered during the
cultural review for the pipeline, it was not included in the physical archaeological survey. The reason for
this is not clear, but it is likely the property around Bridge 75 was determined to have a low probability of
archaeological sites. All other archaeological reviews and surveys have yielded no sites in the nearby
vicinity.

A historic map review of the project area was also conducted. Most early maps from the 18th and 19th
centuries provide only general details concerning the region illustrating just major roads and settlements.
The 1891 USGS Wilkesboro map is one such map and one of the first in which an approximate location
for the project area can be determined (Figure 3). No bridge is depicted in the vicinity of the project and
the only road runs along the eastside of Fish Dam Creek. This road is an early alignment for Fish Dam
Creek Road and Congo Road. The later 1918 Soil Map for Wilkes County shows a more modern road
alignment with a crossing over Fish Dam Creek at or near the current bridge (Figure 4). Structures are
also plotted but none near the APE. The 1938 North Carolina State Highway Map of Wilkes County
depicts further development of the layout for Congo Road and Fish Dam Creek Road (Figure 5). The
map also shows an increase in structures throughout the region, none of which are significant or likely
within the APE. Subsequent early 20th century maps provide no new or useful information. From this
review, the historic maps suggest that no former and significant structures were once located within the
APE.

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 defined archaeological APE for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 75 in Wilkes County is
unlikely to impact intact and significant archaeological deposits. This is primarily due steep slope in
excess of 15 percent, poor soils within the floodplain, and soil erosion along the terrace. A previous
archaeological review for a natural gas pipeline covered the project area but no survey was carried out.
This was likely due to a low probability for sites being found on these landforms. The historic map
review also failed to identify any historic features. As long as impacts to the subsurface occur within the
defined APE, no further archaeological work is recommended for the proposed replacement for Bridge
No. 75. If work should affect subsurface areas beyond the defined APE, further archaeological
consultation might be necessary.

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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SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other: images of historic map

FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED

10/19/16
C. Damon Jones Date
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
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. Topographic Setting of the Project Area, Wilkesboro (1966), NC USGS 7′5 Topographic
Quadrangle.

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 2. Aerial photograph of the APE showing development, contours, and soils within and near the
project area.

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 3. 1891 USGS Wilkesboro topographic map showing the location of the project area.

Figure 4. The 1918 Soil Map for Wilkes County showing the location of the project area.

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 5. The 1938 North Carolina State Highway Map of Wilkes County showing the location of the
project area.