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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20201578 Ver 1_Macon County - B180 - Archaeology_20210129 Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 21 16-02-0065 NO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES 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 Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group. PROJECT INFORMATION Project No: B-5914 County: Macon WBS No: 48051.1.1 Document: PCE or Minimum Criteria F.A. No: N/A Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP 3 or 14 and TVA Project Description: The project calls for the replacement of Bridge No. 180 on SR 1369 (Tellico Road) over Sugar Cove Creek in Macon County. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the project is defined as a 600-foot (182.88 m) long corridor running 300 feet (91.44 m) east and 300 feet west along Tellico Road from the center of the bridge. The corridor is approximately 150 feet (45.72 m) wide extending 75 feet (22.86 m) on either side of the road from its present center. SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS 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. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 21 16-02-0065 RECOMMENDATION TRC Environmental Corporation (TRC) has completed an archaeological survey and evaluation for the replacement of Bridge No. 180 on SR 1369 (Tellico Road) over Sugar Cove Creek in Macon County. The fieldwork was carried out in May 2016 by Michael Nelson. The project APE is within the boundaries of the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District (Petersen et al. 2006), but there are no previously recorded archaeological sites within or adjacent to the APE. The current survey identified two previously unrecorded archaeological sites, 31MA778 and 31MA779. Site 31MA778 is a low density prehistoric (minimally, Late Archaic) and 20th century historic period site. This site is recommended ineligible for the National Register as an individual resource under Criteria A–D, and is not considered a contributing resource to the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District. Site 31MA779 is a prehistoric lithic and ceramic scatter that includes an Early Woodland Swannanoa fabric impressed sherd along with nondiagnostic ceramic and lithic artifacts. The landowner denied permission for test unit excavation at 31MA779, and the National Register eligibility of this site both as an individual resource and as a potential contributing resource to the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District remains unassessed. Based on the current design plans, the project limits have been reduced and 31MA779 will not be affected by the proposed bridge construction (see Figure 17). As a result, TRC recommends no further archaeological investigations are needed for this project. I concur with this recommendation as the proposed bridge replacement project will not impact significant archaeological resources or unassessed site 31MA779. If current design plans change and result in impacts to site 31MA779 or ground disturbances outside the current APE, further archaeological consultations will be necessary. In addition, this state funded project requires a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) 26(a) permit. A copy of this form is being provided to TVA for their use in their Section 106 compliance including Tribal consultations as appropriate. Copies of this form are also being provided to The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Signed: 7/26/15 NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 21 16-02-0065 Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: TRC conducted an intensive archaeological survey and evaluation for the replacement of Bridge No. 180 over Sugar Cove Creek on SR 1369 (Tellico Road) in Macon County. The project area is plotted in the southwest portion of the Wesser USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle. As defined by NCDOT, the survey area (Area of Potential Effects [APE]) for archaeology is a 600-foot (182.88 m) long corridor running 300 feet (91.44 m) east and 300 feet west along Tellico Road from the center of the bridge. The corridor is approximately 150 feet (45.72 m) wide extending 75 feet (22.86 m) on either side of the road from its present center (Figure 1). Background Research Previously Recorded Sites and Resources: A map review and site files search was conducted by Michael Nelson of TRC at the Office of State Archaeology Western Branch (OSA) on April 21, 2016, which supplemented a previous NCDOT review. There are no previously recorded sites located within a mile radius of the project area according to SHPO records, and there have been few archaeological surveys in the immediate vicinity of the project area. The project APE is within Section 4 (Teague Branch to Tellico Gap) of the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District (MA 0091, MA 0593), which was study-listed for the National Register in 1995 and recommended eligible for the National Register in 2006 under Criteria A, C, and D (Figure 2) (Petersen et al. 2006:122). In particular, Petersen et al. (2006:148) note that the District is significant under Criterion A: as a remote mountain community in southwestern North Carolina representative not only of the successive settlement of Native and Euro-American populations, but also of a pivotal event in Cherokee-American relations in North Carolina and the United States—the granting and subsequent revocation of 640-acre life reservations to individual Cherokees and under Criterion C due to the presence of a stone fishweir and: representative examples of late nineteenth and early-twentieth-century rural dwellings and community buildings … all in a relatively unaltered condition. All of the buildings in the district retain their original relationships to the road, creek, and mountainous terrain. Finally, the District is eligible under Criterion D due to the presence of: a significant number of archaeological resources (and other cultural resources) that illustrate distinct patterns in the evolution of both Cherokee and Euro-American societies. … [These] are very likely to continue to reveal much information regarding the intimate relationships (cultural and functional) between the natural environment in the valley and human adaptation over time. In particular, the patterns of Cherokee land-use in the expanded Tellico Valley Historic District have hinted at and are expected to reveal essential insights into the cultural responses of traditionalist/nativist elements in Cherokee society to increasing Anglo-American pressures. Historic Map Review: Topographic and other historic period maps were examined for information on natural or cultural variables that might have affected site locations. The Price and Strother map (1808) does not depict any information west of Buncombe County. The MacRae and Brazier map (1833) depicts Franklin and the immediate vicinity, but no detail in the approximate project area. The Kerr map (1882) depicts Tellico Creek, but no obvious detail of the project area. The APE is within an area that was ceded by the Cherokees in the Calhoun Treaty of 1819. There are no detailed maps of Cherokee homesteads at that time, but as shown in Figure 3, the project area is located in Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 4 of 21 16-02-0065 the western part of the 640-acre Citizen Cherokee Reserve of Suaga, which was one of four reserves platted along Tellico Creek (Petersen et al. 2006). The plat for Suaga’s Reserve provides little topographic and no cultural detail, and it does not depict the confluence of Sugar Cove and Tellico Creeks (Riggs 1988:204). The area was also outside Cherokee control when the 1837–1838 U.S. Army map was developed. As a result, the map does not provide detail on the APE or immediate vicinity (Figure 4). The earliest map to provide detail in the area is the 1906 USGS Nantahala quadrangle, which depicts the road crossing Sugar Cove Creek at or near its current location south of its confluence, as well as a structure located on the northwest side of the crossing (Figure 5). The 1910s Rural Delivery map depicts a road and creek crossing in the same general layout as the current configuration, but no structures in the project area (Figure 6). The 1933 Macon County soil map shows a similar crossing, along with a structure southwest of the APE; that structure is presumably the abandoned farmhouse (MA 90, the George or Florence Ramsey Farm) presently standing in the area (Figure 7) (Devereaux et al. 1933; Peterson et al. 2006:123; http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/). The same structure is shown on the 1935 USGS Wesser planimetric quadrangle and subsequent maps (Figure 8). Soil Types: The soils in the APE are mapped primarily as the Spivey-Santeetlah complex (SrC). This loamy soil complex is well drained with slopes of 8 to 15 percent. The surface is often stony with exposed rock or rock just under the surface layer. In addition, a small area in the southwest corner of the APE is mapped as Soco-Stecoah complex, 30 to 50 percent slopes. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 5 of 21 16-02-0065 Field Work Results The archaeological field survey included shovel testing (STs) at 10- to 15-m intervals where possible within the APE (Figure 9). A total of 37 shovel tests were excavated. All shovel tests measured 30 cm in diameter and were excavated to subsoil or hydric soils or a minimum depth of 75 cm below surface (cmbs). All soils that were not obvious fill were dry-screened through ¼-inch mesh. Standard techniques were used to describe each shovel test in terms of depth, stratigraphy, and artifact recovery. The southeast quadrant is encompassed primarily by a heavily wooded small unnamed drainage and exhibits extremely rocky soils. Just two shovel tests (#18 and 19) were excavated in this quadrant; both were negative (Figure 10; see Figure 9). The shovel tests in this area encountered a 5–8 cm thick root mat atop dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) loam to approximate depths of 15–20 cmbs followed by yellowish brown (10YR 5/8) clay loam to rock at depths of 25–30 cmbs. Shovel test excavation in the northeast, northwest, and southwest quadrants identified two archaeological sites: 31MA778 and 31MA779. 31MA778 Site 31MA778 is a prehistoric and historic period site located in the northwest and southwest quadrants of the project APE, on both sides of Tellico Road (see Figure 9). The northwest quadrant is roughly divided by a small drive, with outbuildings and a dog pen to the east and an open recently plowed garden plot to the west. Surface artifacts were collected from the recently plowed field, but no subsurface artifacts were recovered from the six shovel tests (#1–6) excavated on the north side of Tellico Road. The southwest quadrant covers a small cleared cut bank, a driveway, and a yard around a standing but abandoned early 20th century farmhouse (the Florence Ramsey House, see above) (Figures 11–13). Eleven shovel tests (#7–17) were excavated on the south side of Tellico Road, four of which produced artifacts. Taken together, the site measures at least 80 m (east-west) × 30 m (north-south) and likely extends outside the APE to the south behind the house. The site is bounded by the APE boundary to the north, west, and south and by negative shovel tests and Sugar Cove Creek to the east. Soils across the site are varied with gravelly fill encountered in shovel tests on either side of the existing driveway on the south side of Tellico Road. Additionally, modern debris (i.e., plastic and Styrofoam) were noted within many shovel tests around the house and driveway. Beneath the fill is a 14–45 cm thick dark brown (10YR 3/3) loam plowzone over dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/6) clay loam to clay or rocks. Shovel tests in the plowed field across the road contained a thicker (24–32 cm) dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) clay loam plowzone atop yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) very clayey loam to clay at approximated depths of 44 to 51 cm. A total of 40 artifacts were collected from site 31MA778, including 20 artifacts (11 prehistoric and nine historic) from the plowed field north of Tellico Road and 20 (two prehistoric and 18 historic) from four of 11 shovel tests south of the road (Appendix 1). All subsurface artifacts were collected from the plowzone. The artifact assemblage includes 13 prehistoric lithic artifacts, including a quartzite Savannah River PPK base (Figure 14a), a retouched quartz flake (Figure 14b), and 11 unmodified debitage fragments (three chert, one quartz, and seven quartzite). The historic period artifacts include six ceramic sherds (three undecorated whiteware [e.g., Figure 14d] and three Albany-slipped stoneware [e.g., Figure 14e], 10 container glass fragments (four clear, five aqua, and one cobalt blue), a modern faceted red glass bead (Figure 14c), a lightbulb glass fragment, a piece of melted glass, a copper alloy hinge (Figure 14f), two wire nails, four ud. nails, and an unidentified metal fragment. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 6 of 21 16-02-0065 The historic assemblage is consistent with an early to mid-20th century residential occupation that likely is related to the existing Florence Ramsey house, which is shown on early to mid-20th century maps (see above). According to the current landowner, his grandfather built the house about 100 years ago, which corresponds with the historic maps. The house is the only surface feature associated with the site, although a number of modern outbuildings are within the site boundaries. Site 31MA778 is a low density, prehistoric and historic period site characteristic of many in western North Carolina; there is no evidence of artifact concentrations or intact depositional contexts that could provide significant or new information concerning local, state, or regional prehistory; consequently, the site is recommended ineligible for the National Register under Criterion D. Despite its location within the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District, the site also appears to lack the characteristics that would make it eligible under Criteria A, B, or C. Consequently, no additional work is recommended at 31MA778 in association with the current project. 31MA779 Site 31MA779 is a moderate-sized prehistoric artifact scatter (which also contains a single historic artifact) situated at the edge of a working vineyard along the north side of Tellico Road in the northeast quadrant of the Bridge 180 APE (Figure 15; see Figure 9). The site is bounded by the APE boundary to the north and east, by negative shovel tests to the west, and by Tellico Road to the south. As currently defined, the site measures approximately about 50 m east-west by 20 m north-south. A total of 18 shovel tests (#20–37) were excavated at 15- and 7.5-m intervals in this quadrant; 12 of which produced a total of 62 prehistoric artifacts (Appendix 1). The assemblage includes eight ceramic sherds, including an Early Woodland period Swannanoa fabric impressed specimen (Figure 16a), an eroded specimen, and six residual sherds. The lithic artifacts include a quartz biface fragment (Figure 16b), a utilized flake (Figure 16c), 50 debitage fragments (four chert, two crystal quartz, 12 quartz, and 32 quartzite), and two fragments of FCR. Although most of the artifacts are nondiagnostic, the predominance of quartzite and quartz is suggestive of one or more Archaic through Early Woodland period occupations. A single unidentified metal artifact was also recovered, but is not considered to represent a significant component. All artifacts were collected from the plowzone (Ap horizon), which is dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/6) clay loam extending to depths of up to 31 cmbs. Beneath the plowzone is a compact dark yellowish brown (10YR 4/4) clay loam to clay or rocks to depths of 20–44 cmbs. Based on the results of the survey, TRC recommended that two 1 × 1 m test units be excavated to further evaluate the site’s potential National Register eligibility. The landowner denied permission for test unit excavation, however, and consequently TRC recommends that the National Register eligibility of this site remains unassessed. Current NCDOT design plans indicate that site 31MA779 will not be affected by the bridge replacement, however, and TRC consequently recommends that no additional work is necessary for this project as currently defined (Figure 17). Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 7 of 21 16-02-0065 CONCLUSION The archaeological survey at Bridge 180 resulted in the discovery of two previously unrecorded archaeological sites, 31MA778 and 31MA779. Site 31MA778 is a low density prehistoric (minimally, Late Archaic) and 20th century historic period site. This site is recommended ineligible for the National Register as an individual resource under all four criteria, and is not considered a contributing resource to the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District. Site 31MA779 is a prehistoric lithic and ceramic scatter that includes an Early Woodland Swannanoa fabric impressed sherd along with nondiagnostic ceramic and lithic artifacts. The landowner denied permission for test unit excavation at 31MA779, and the National Register eligibility of this site both as an individual resource and as a potential contributing resource to the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District remains unassessed. Based on the current design plans, however, 31MA779 will not be affected by the proposed bridge construction as the project limits have been reduced (see Figure 17). Consequently, no further archaeological investigations are recommended for this project unless current design plans change to result in impacts to site 31MA779 or ground disturbances outside the current APE. Michal Nelson Archaeologist, Asheville TRC Environmental Corporation REFERENCES Devereaux, R E., E.F. Goldston, and W.A. Davis 1933 Soil Survey of Macon County, North Carolina. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Washington, D.C. Kerr, W.C. 1882 Map of North Carolina. North Carolina State Board of Agriculture. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/ref/collection/ncmaps/id/537. MacRae, John, and Robert H.B. Brazier 1833 A New Map of the State of North Carolina. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/ncmaps/id/181/rec/1. Petersen, Shane C., Jennifer A. Cathey, Jesse D. Zinn, and Caleb Smith 2006 Cultural Resources Survey Report: Secondary Road Improvements to Needmore Road, SR 1364/SR 1114, Macon and Swain Counties, North Carolina. North Carolina Department of Transportation, Raleigh. Price, Jonathan, and John Strother 1808 First Actual Survey of North Carolina. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/ncmaps/id/520/rec/1. Riggs, Brett 1988 An Historical and Archaeological Reconnaissance of Citizen Cherokee Reservations in Macon, Swain, and Jackson Counties, North Carolina. Department of Anthropology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) 1906 Nantahala, N.C., 15-minute topographic map (1:125,000). 1935 Wesser, N.C., 7.5-minute planimetric map (1:24,000). U.S. Post Office 1910s Rural Delivery Routes, Macon County, North Carolina. http://dc.lib.unc.edu/cdm/singleitem/collection/ncmaps/id/1733/rec/1. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 8 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 1. Location of Bridge 180 and Bridge 181 APEs and identified archaeological sites. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 9 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 2. Bridge 180 and the Tellico Valley Rural Historic District (adapted from Petersen et al. 2006: Figure 85). Figure 3. Citizen Cherokee Reservations in the Bridge 180 project area (adapted from Petersen et al. 2006:Figure 48). Project Area Project Area Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 10 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 4. Bridge 180 project area as shown on the 1837–1838 U.S. Army survey map. Figure 5. Bridge 180 project area as shown on 1906 USGS Nantahala quadrangle. Project Area Project Area Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 11 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 6. Bridge 180 project area as shown on 1910s Rural Delivery map. Figure 7. Bridge 180 project area as shown on 1933 Macon County soils map. Project Area Project Area Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 12 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 8. Bridge 180 project area as shown on 1935 USGS Wesser planimetric map. Project Area Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 13 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 9. Map of Bridge 180 APE showing shovel test and site locations. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 14 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 10. Bridge 180 APE; rocky drainage in southeast quadrant, facing west. Figure 11. Bridge 180 APE; Florence Ramsey house at 31MA778, facing southeast. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 15 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 12. Bridge 180 APE; modern outbuildings at southwest edge of APE at 31MA778, facing southwest. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 16 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 13. Bridge 180 APE; farmhouse and plowed field at 31MA778 , facing southeast. Figure 14. Selected artifacts from 31MA778. a: Savannah River PPK base, surface; b: retouched quartz flake, surface; c: faceted red glass bead, ST 15; d: copper alloy hinge, ST 9; e: Albany slipped stoneware, surface; f: undecorated whiteware, ST 9 a b c d e f Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 17 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 15. Bridge 180 APE; site 31MA779, facing west. Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 18 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 16. Selected artifacts from 31MA779. a: Swannanoa fabric impressed sherd, ST 29; b: quartz biface, ST 36; e: quartz utilized flake, ST 24 a b c Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 19 of 21 16-02-0065 Figure 17. Current Bridge 180 design plans documenting avoidance of site 31MA779. 31MA779 Survey APE Proposed limits of disturbance Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 20 of 21 16-02-0065 Project Tracking No. “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES AFFECTED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 21 of 21 16-02-0065