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Home My WebLink About20210869 Ver 1_AR16-01-0132NoSurveyRevised_20210426 Project Tracking No.: “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 5 16-01-0132 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-5501 County: Chowan WBS No: 55001.1.1 Document: Federal CE F.A. No: ? Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE & CAMA Project Description: The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 1 intends to replace Bridge No. 3 on SR 1200, Macedonia Road/Mexico Road, over Pembrook Creek west of Edenton. No description of the project was provided with the Request for Cultural Resources Review form, but a study area 1400 feet (426.72 meters) long and 200 feet (60.96 meters) wide was originally proposed in 2016. At that time, the archaeological area of potential effects (APE) was established to those parameters and thus encompassed an area of roughly 6.43 acres (more than 2.6 hectares). By June 2020, the proposed project was changed to include federal funding and the generation of a Federal Categorical Exclusion document. Additionally, preliminary drawings had been developed that allowed the further refinement of the project footprint. Thus, a revised APE has been established based on the project footprint depicted on available designs (i.e. permit review drawings). This revised APE is estimated to encompass 1.5 acres (nearly .61 hectare). SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: The original review of the site maps and files archived at the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology was conducted on February 4, 2016 and rechecked remotely on July 17, 2020. No previously identified archaeological resources are recorded in the location of the proposed project, but several archaeological sites (31Co64-66, 31Co68-72, 31Co127) are located to the west and northwest of Bridge No. 3. These sites were identified in 1984 by researchers with Archaeological Research Consultants for a proposed wastewater treatment facility (Hargrove and Leonard 1984). Along the low uplands overlooking Pembroke Creek (Mattacomack Creek) and Pollock’s Swamp Hargrove identified several small prehistoric artifacts scatters, including site 31Co65, 31Co66, 31CO69, 31Co70, 31Co71, and 31Co72; all composed of relatively small collections that appear to represent Archaic and Woodland period campsites in the area. Site 31Co68 was interpreted as possibly a small seasonal base camp or residence dating to the Mount Pleasant phase of the Middle Woodland. While large numbers of ceramics were recovered in a fairly small area, no evidence of intact subsurface deposits was found here. Evidence of disturbed historic period archaeological deposits were observed at sites 31Co70** and 31Co72**; the latter site was associated with the late nineteenth –century “Zeb Smith House” noted on the opposite side of SR 1202 (a structure not recorded on the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office HPOWEB GIS Service site). Site 31Co127** was identified as the location of a potentially colonial-era cemetery that has been plowed over and the grave markers removed (though little surface evidence was observed). None of these sites were recommended as eligible for the National Register of Historic Places, but they provide an excellent illustration of the intensive historic and prehistoric occupation of the elevated landforms in the area. Project Tracking No.: “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 5 16-01-0132 An examination of the data presented on the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office HPOWEB GIS Service reveals that two recorded historic properties are located within the same radius. To the south of Bridge No. 3 is the Klu Klux Klan Meeting House. The location of the Nathaniel Bissel House was recorded roughly 1400 feet (nearly 428 meters) east of Pembroke Creek, but may no longer be standing. The crossing of Pembroke Creek at the project area is known historically as “Bolton’s Bridge”. Records at the State Division of Archives and History provide an illustration of long local maintenance of this cross from the eighteenth century to the present (Hargrove and Leonard 1984: 55-57). The Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil survey (https://websoilsurvey.sc.egov.usda.gov/App/HomePage.htm) indicates that two soil types are present within the proposed APE: Altavista fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes (AaA); and Dorovan muck (Do). While the archaeological and historic potential in the vicinity of this location appears to be very high, the revised APE based on the design footprint suggests that the proposed project is not likely to impact significant archaeological or historic resources. Archaeological investigations on the well-drained uplands on the west side of Pembroke Creek/Pollock’s Swamp, strongly suggest similar potential in well drained uplands on the eastern side. However, the total area within the revised APE, but outside existing ROW on the eastern side of Bridge No. 3, is estimated at roughly .09 acre (less than 370 square meters). All of this area, based on aerial photographs, falls within portions of the landscape that has been altered by ditching, utilities, and residential landform modification. Intact, significant, archaeological deposits are very unlikely in such conditions. No further archaeological investigations are required for the project as currently proposed and the project should be considered to be compliant with Section 106 of the NHPA, as well as NCGS 121-12(a). Should the project expand beyond the boundaries established as the revised archaeological APE further archaeological consideration will be necessary. In the unlikely event that archaeological material or deposits are encountered during the completion of the bridge replacement project, all activities should cease in the associated area and the NCDOT Archaeology Group should be contacted immediately. This project falls within a North Carolina county in which the following federally recognized Tribe(s) have expressed an interest: Catawba Indian Nation. It is recommended that you contact each federal agency involved with your project to determine their Section 106 Tribal consultation requirements. 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 revised APE represents a significant reduction in the potential area surrounding Bridge No. 3 that will be directly impacted by the project as currently proposed. Generally, the proposed replacement structure will be placed in the same location and on the same orientation as the existing structure. As a result, the proposed bridge replacement is anticipated to largely impact areas that are dominated by wetlands or land that has been drastically altered immediately adjacent the existing highway facility. Intact archaeological resources that might be eligible for the NRHP are not expected in the areas to be impacted. References Cited: Hargrove, T. H., and S. Leonard 1984 An Archaeological and Biological Survey of the Site of a Proposed Wastewater Treatment Plant northwest of Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina. Ms. On file, Office of Human Environment, North Carolina Department of Transportation, Raleigh. Project Tracking No.: “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 5 16-01-0132 SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Other: soil map FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED July 17, 2020 NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date Project Tracking No.: “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 4 of 5 16-01-0132 Aerial photograph depicting the original 2016 APE (light blue) and the revised 2020 APE (yellow) for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 3 on SR 1200; note the location of the historic property (blue dot). Project Tracking No.: “No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 5 of 5 16-01-0132 Aerial photograph with 2-foot contours illustrating the revised archaeological APE for the revised archaeological APE for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 3 on SR 1200; note the location of the historic property (blue dot). Soil Map—Chowan County, North Carolina (B-5501 Chowan County) Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 7/13/2020 Page 1 of 33992960399299039930203993050399308039931103993140399317039929603992990399302039930503993080399311039931403993170351410351440351470351500351530351560351590351620351650351680351710351740 351410 351440 351470 351500 351530 351560 351590 351620 351650 351680 351710 351740 36° 4' 18'' N 76° 39' 0'' W36° 4' 18'' N76° 38' 46'' W36° 4' 11'' N 76° 39' 0'' W36° 4' 11'' N 76° 38' 46'' WN Map projection: Web Mercator Corner coordinates: WGS84 Edge tics: UTM Zone 18N WGS84 0 50 100 200 300 Feet 0 20 40 80 120 Meters Map Scale: 1:1,600 if printed on A landscape (11" x 8.5") sheet. Soil Map may not be valid at this scale. MAP LEGEND MAP INFORMATION Area of Interest (AOI) Area of Interest (AOI) Soils Soil Map Unit Polygons Soil Map Unit Lines Soil Map Unit Points Special Point Features Blowout Borrow Pit Clay Spot Closed Depression Gravel Pit Gravelly Spot Landfill Lava Flow Marsh or swamp Mine or Quarry Miscellaneous Water Perennial Water Rock Outcrop Saline Spot Sandy Spot Severely Eroded Spot Sinkhole Slide or Slip Sodic Spot Spoil Area Stony Spot Very Stony Spot Wet Spot Other Special Line Features Water Features Streams and Canals Transportation Rails Interstate Highways US Routes Major Roads Local Roads Background Aerial Photography The soil surveys that comprise your AOI were mapped at 1:24,000. Warning: Soil Map may not be valid at this scale. Enlargement of maps beyond the scale of mapping can cause misunderstanding of the detail of mapping and accuracy of soil line placement. The maps do not show the small areas of contrasting soils that could have been shown at a more detailed scale. Please rely on the bar scale on each map sheet for map measurements. Source of Map: Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey URL: Coordinate System: Web Mercator (EPSG:3857) Maps from the Web Soil Survey are based on the Web Mercator projection, which preserves direction and shape but distorts distance and area. A projection that preserves area, such as the Albers equal-area conic projection, should be used if more accurate calculations of distance or area are required. This product is generated from the USDA-NRCS certified data as of the version date(s) listed below. Soil Survey Area: Chowan County, North Carolina Survey Area Data: Version 20, Jun 2, 2020 Soil map units are labeled (as space allows) for map scales 1:50,000 or larger. Date(s) aerial images were photographed: Apr 20, 2015—May 15, 2017 The orthophoto or other base map on which the soil lines were compiled and digitized probably differs from the background imagery displayed on these maps. As a result, some minor shifting of map unit boundaries may be evident. Soil Map—Chowan County, North Carolina (B-5501 Chowan County) Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 7/13/2020 Page 2 of 3 Map Unit Legend Map Unit Symbol Map Unit Name Acres in AOI Percent of AOI AaA Altavista fine sandy loam, 0 to 2 percent slopes 0.8 52.6% DO Dorovan muck, 0 to 2 percent slopes, frequently flooded 0.5 35.0% W Water 0.2 12.4% Totals for Area of Interest 1.5 100.0% Soil Map—Chowan County, North Carolina B-5501 Chowan County Natural Resources Conservation Service Web Soil Survey National Cooperative Soil Survey 7/13/2020 Page 3 of 3