20191336 Ver 2_540057 NoSitesPresent_20200413

Project Tracking No.:
16-11-0008
NO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
o
ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
PRESENT 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
n�
Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No:
NA County: Lincoln
WBS No:
17BP.12.R.104 Document: MCC
F.A. No:
NA Funding: ® State ❑ Federal
Federal Permit
Required? ® Yes ❑ No Permit Type: NWP 3
Project Description:
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace Bridge No. 57
on SR 1248, South Fork Road, over South Fork of the Catawba River south of Lincoln -ton in
Lincoln County. No preliminary plans were submitted for reference. A study corridor was
provided by NCDOT. Construction will occur within a study area measuring approximately 940
feet (287 meters) long and 150 feet (46 meters) wide and encompasses approximately 3.26 acres
(1.31 hectares).
SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS
Prior to commencement of the field survey, Environmental Corporation of America (ECA)
conducted a background literature review to identify previously recorded cultural resources,
including archaeological sites, features, or historic structures within the area of potential effects
(APE) for Bridge No. 57. Sources reviewed included the files at the North Carolina Office of
State Archaeology (OSA), the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), and the North
Carolina Historic Preservation Office (NC SHPO) GIS service. No previously identified
archaeological sites or previously conducted archaeological surveys were identified in the
location of the proposed project. Further, ECA reviewed the 1993 Lincolnton East, NC
topographic map and Google Earth aerial photographs to determine if any above -ground cultural
features are located within the APE. Based on this review, no structures were identified within
the project area.
Geologically, the project area is located within the Piedmont physiographic region of North
Carolina. The APE is characterized by maintained grass -covered right-of-way (ROW), wooded
areas and slopes greater than 20 percent. The boundaries of the APE were not identifiably
delineated during the time of the site visit. According to the USDA Web Soil Survey, soils
located within or immediately adjacent to the APE consist of Buncombe sand, 0 to 5 percent
slopes, rarely flooded (BnB), Georgeville loam, 15 to 25 percent slopes (GrD), and Pacolet sandy
loam, 25 to 45 percent slopes (PaE). Landforms exhibiting slope may have eroded and/or
deflated soils, and alluvial soils may be frequently flooded (USDA Soil Survey 2017).
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
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Project Tracking No.:
16-11-0008
On February 22, 2017, ECA completed an intensive archaeological survey within the APE,
located along Bridge No. 57 on SR 1248, South Fork Road, over South Fork of the Catawba
River. A pedestrian survey was conducted by visual inspection of exposed ground surfaces
throughout the project APE in conjunction with systematic shovel testing. Ground surface
visibility throughout the project area was less than 5% due to vegetative cover and standing
water.
Shovel testing was completed at 50-foot (15-meter) intervals to survey for potential
archaeological resources within the project APE. Bridge No. 57 is aligned in a general
northwest/southeast orientation. The intensive archaeological survey consisted of two transects,
each located on either side of the existing road (SR 1248) and generally offset approximately 40
feet (12 meters) from the edge of the roadway in order to sample landforms that were conducive
to shovel testing. Transect A was positioned on the northeastern side of SR 1248 and Transect B
was positioned on the southwestern side of SR 1248. See Figures 1-9 for photographs and maps.
Based on the dimensions of the ROW, ECA planned to excavate 36 shovel test pits within the
APE; however, during our field work, fifteen shovel test pits were omitted or shovel turns were
substituted for shovel tests due to steep slope, disturbed ROW, and/or existing gravel or asphalt
drives, and four shovel test pits were omitted due to the presence of the South Fork of the
Catawba River.
Transect A was positioned on the northeastern side of SR 1248 (South Fork Road) and traversed
from the northwestern edge of the project area to its southeastern extent. ECA planned to
excavate 18 shovel tests along Transect A. Of these, two shovel tests were omitted due to the
presence of standing water associated with the South Fork of the Catawba River, five shovel
turns were substituted for shovel tests due to steep slope and disturbed ROW, and one shovel
turn was conducted in lieu of shovel testing in an existing gravel covered trail.
Transect B was positioned on the southwestern side of SR 1248 (South Fork Road) and traversed
from the northwestern edge of the project area to its southeastern extent. ECA planned to
excavate 18 shovel tests along Transect B. Of these, two shovel tests were omitted due to the
presence of standing water associated with the South Fork of the Catawba River, eight shovel
turns were substituted for shovel tests due to steep slope, disturbed ROW, and/or existing gravel
areas, and one shovel test was omitted due to the presence of an asphalt drive.
All shovel tests measured approximately 16 inches by 16 inches (41 cm by 41 cm) and were
excavated into known sterile subsoils for the project area. All soils were screened through a six -
millimeter wire mesh archaeology screen to isolate any cultural artifacts. All shovel tests were
backfilled.
The intensive archaeological survey revealed both disturbance and intact soils throughout the
APE. No artifacts or cultural features were observed within the APE during the surface survey,
and all shovel tests were negative (see Table 1 and Figure 9).
Matthew Beazley, MA, RPA with ECA, recommends no further archaeological investigations for
the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 57 in Lincoln County. Mr. Beazley concludes that the
proposed improvements will not impact any significant archaeological resources.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
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Project Tracking No.:
16-11-0008
The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Archaeology Group reviewed the subject
project and determined:
® There are no National Register listed or eligible ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES present
within the project's area of potential effects. (Attach any notes or documents as needed)
❑ No subsurface archaeological investigations were required for this project.
® Subsurface investigations did not reveal the presence of any archaeological resources.
❑ Subsurface investigations did not reveal the presence of any archaeological resources
considered eligible for the National Register.
❑ All identified archaeological sites located within the APE have been considered and all
compliance for archaeological resources with Section 106 of the National Historic
Preservation Act and GS 121-12(a) has been completed for this project.
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: ® Map(s) ❑ Previous Survey Info
Signed:
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
® Photos ❑Correspondence
March 29, 2017
Date
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form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
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Project Tracking No.:
16-11-0008
Table 1. Shovel Test Pit Results
Shovel
Average Depths Between
Test Pit
STP Width/Length
Munsell Color/Texture
(STP)
Inches
cm
7.5YR 4/4 (brown) loam
0-6
0-15
A-1
16"x16"
(41cm x 41cm)
2.5YR 4/8 (red) clay with large stone cobbles
6-16
15-41
Impenetrable bedrock
16
41
16"xl6"
7.5YR 4/4(brown) loam
0-3
0-8
A 2
(41 cm x 41 cm)
Impenetrable bedrock
3
8
7.5YR 4/4 (brown) loam
0-4
0-10
A-3
16"xl6„
(41cm x 4lcm)
5YR 4/6 clay
4-8
10-20
Impenetrable bedrock
8
20
16"xl6"
10YR 5/4 (yellowish brown) loamy sand
0-17
0-43
A-4
(41 cm x 41 cm)
Impenetrable bedrock
17
43
7.5YR 4/4 (brown) loam
0-6
0-15
A-5
16"xl6"
2.5YR 4/8 (red) clay with large stone cobbles
6-10
15-25
(41 cm x 41 cm)
Impenetrable bedrock
10
25
16"xl6"
I OYR 4/2 (dark grayish brown) sandy loam
0-8
0-20
A-6
(41cm x 41cm)
10YR 5/8 (yellowish brown) loamy sand
8-36
20-91
16"xl6"
1 OYR 4/2 (dark grayish brown) sandy loam
0-4
0-10
A 7
(41 cm x 41 cm)
1 OYR 5/8 (yellowish brown) loamy sand
4-36
10-91
16"xl6"
10YR 4/2 (dark grayish brown) sandy loam
0-8
0-20
A 8
(41cm x 41cm)
1 OYR 5/8 (yellowish brown) loamy sand
8-36
20-91
16"xl6"
1 OYR 4/2 (dark grayish brown) sandy loam
0-8
0-20
A-9
(41cm x 41cm)
10YR 5/8 (yellowish brown) loamy sand
8-36
20-91
A-10
-
Test omitted — creek and bridge
-
-
A-11
-
Test omitted — creek and bride
-
-
1 OYR 4/3 (brown) sandy loam
0-8
0-20
A-12
16"xl6"
7.5YR 4/6 (strong brown) sandy loam
8-28
20-71
(41cm x 41cm)
7.5YR 4/4 (brown) sandy loam
28-36
71-91
A-13
-
Shovel turn — gravel drive
-
-
A-14
-
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
under surface
A-15
-
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
under surface
A-16
-
Shovel turn— slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
-
under surface
A-17
-
Shovel turn— slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
-
under surface
A-18
-
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
under surface
B-1
-
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
-
-
under surface
B-2
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
-
-
under surface
B-3
-
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
under surface
B-4
-
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
-
-
under surface
B-5
-
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
-
-
under surface
IOYR 4/2 dark grayish brown sandy loam
0-9
0-23
B-6
16"xl6"
1 OYR 5/3 (brown) clay loam
9-10
23-25
(41cm x 41cm)
2.5YR 4/8 (red) clay
10-18
25-46
7.5YR 4/6 (strong brown) sandy loam
0-16
0-41
B-7
16"xl6"
2.5YR 4/8 (red) clay16-17
41-43
(41 cm x 41 cm)
Impenetrable bedrock
17
43
16"xl6"
1 OYR 4/2 (dark grayish brown) sandy loam
0-4
0-10
B-8
(41 cm x 41 cm)
I 1 OYR 5/8 (yellowish brown) loamy sand
1 4-36
1 10-91
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007Programmatic Agreement.
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Project Tracking No.:
16-11-0008
Shovel
Test Pit
STP)
STP Width/Length
Munsell Color/Texture
Average Depths Between
Inches
cm
B-9
16"xl6„
(41 cm x 41 cm)
IOYR 4/2 dark grayish brown) sandy loam
0-5
0-13
10YR 5/8 (yellowish brown) loam sand
5-26
13-66
7.5YR 4/6 (strong brown) sandy clay
26-36
66-91
B-10
-
Test omitted — creek and bridge
-
-
B-11
-
Test omitted — creek and bridge
-
-
B-12
16"xl6"
(41 cm x 41 cm)
10YR 5/8 (brown) sand
0-10
0-25
7.5YR 4/6(strong brown) sand
10-34
25-86
B-13
16"x16„
(41cm x 41cm)
7.5YR 4/6 (strong brown) loam
0-7
0-18
2.5YR 4/6 (red) clay
7-8
18-20
Impenetrable bedrock
8
20
13-14
16"x16"
(41 cm x 41 cm)
IOYR 4/2 (very dark grayish brown) sandy loam
0-6
0-15
2.5YR4/6 red clay6-7
15-18
Impenetrable bedrock
7
18
B-15
-
Shovel turn — Impenetrable gravel under topsoil
-
-
B-16
-
Test omitted — paved drive
-
-
B 17
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
under surface
B-18
-
Shovel turn — slope, roadway, subsoil immediately
under surface
-
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects us Qualified in the 2007Programmatic Agreement.
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Project Tracking No.:
16-11-0008
Figure 7: Southeasterly View of Transect B.
Figure 8: Southeasterly View of Transect B.
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form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007Programmatic Agreement.
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Project Tracking No.:
16-11-0008
300 0 300 ft Legend
APE
Map of the APE for the Replacement of Negative Shovel Test
Bridge No. 57 on SR 1248
Shovel Turn or Test Omitted
Figure 9: Site Map of the APE for the Replacement of Bridge No. 57.
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form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
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