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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210920 Ver 1_Iredell 141 No NRHP form_20210503Project Tracking No. 21-01-0004 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” FORM 1 of 15 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 Team. PROJECT INFORMATION Project No: County: Iredell WBS No: DF17112.2049800 Document: Federal Categorical Exclusion F.A. No: Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE; DWR Project Description: Replace Bridge 141 on SR 1585 (Cattleman's Rd.) over Snow Creek in Iredell County. This is an emergency bridge replacement due to a flash flood event. The failed 20-ft. wide steel and timber bridge will be replaced on the same alignment with a 33-ft. wide concrete bridge. The Area of Potential Effects (A.P.E.) is approximately 122 meters (400 ft.) long and 76 meters (250 ft.) wide. The project is state funded and will require federal permits, so this review is conducted pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Archaeology Team has reviewed the subject project and determined: There are no National Register listed ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES 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: See attached report (This project falls within a North Carolina County in which the following federally recognized tribes have expressed an interest: Cherokee Nation; Catawba Indian Nation. We recommend that you ensure that this documentation is forwarded to these tribes using the process described in the current NCDOT Tribal Protocol and PA Procedures Manual.) SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Other: Project Tracking No. 21-01-0004 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” FORM 2 of 15 Signed: CALEB SMITH 4/12/2021 NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date Archaeological Survey for the Replacement of Bridge 141 on SR 1585 (Cattleman’s Rd.) over Snow Creek in Iredell County, North Carolina (Programmatic Agreement # 21-01-0004) By Caleb Smith (4/12/2021) Introduction The N.C. Department of Transportation (NCDOT) conducted an archaeological survey for the replacement of Bridge 141 on SR 1585 (Cattleman’s Rd.) over Snow Creek. The project is located north of the community of Stony Point in northwestern Iredell County (Figure 1). The project was submitted for Cultural Resources Review in January 2021 as an emergency replacement due to a flash flood event (Figures 2-3). This is a state funded project. However, since USACE permitting is required, the project is a federal undertaking and subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act. The Area of Potential Effects (A.P.E.) of the bridge replacement is approximately 122 meters (400 ft.) long and 76 meters (250 ft.) wide. (The bridge is oriented northeast-southwest but is considered “grid” north-south for this purpose of this description. The “grid direction” is used only when describing the quadrants of the bridge replacement. In most cases the true cardinal directions are used.) Cultural Resources Review The Cultural Resources Review included the examination of a topographic map, the Iredell County soil survey, an aerial photograph, and an examination of records about previously recorded sites, previous archaeological surveys, and previous environmental reviews at the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology (OSA) in Raleigh. The topographic map (Central, N.C.) shows the A.P.E. is in a narrow stream valley (Figure 4). On the west side of the bridge, the A.P.E. includes narrow strips of floodplain and sloped ridges on each side of the stream. The valley widens on the east side of the bridge, and the A.P.E. includes level floodplain/terrace landforms on both sides of the creek. The Iredell County soil survey shows several soil types in the A.P.E., including Codorous loam (0-2% slopes), Dan River and Comus soils (0-4% slopes), Fairview sandy clay loam (15-25% slopes), Fairview-Stott Knob complex (25-45% slopes), Ronda-Comus complex (0-5% slopes), and Woolwine-Fairview-Westfield complex (8-15% slopes). Codorus loam is a somewhat poorly drained soil found on floodplains. Dan River/Comus soils is a well-drained soil found on floodplains. The aerial photograph shows the A.P.E. is a mix of cleared and wooded land (Figure 5). There are no previously recorded archaeological sites within or adjacent to the A.P.E. There are no projects that have been reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO) within the A.P.E. The A.P.E. is not within any areas that have been surveyed for archaeological sites. An archaeological survey was recommended on 1/22/2021. Archaeological Field Survey The archaeological survey was conducted by NCDOT archaeologist Caleb Smith assisted by NCDOT Division 12 Environmental Officer Jeff Wyatt on 2/10/2021. The A.P.E. for the project is a relatively small one because the (former) 6-meter (20-ft.) wide bridge will be replaced in place with a 10-meter (33-ft.) wide bridge. The landforms within the A.P.E. in the northwest and southwest quadrants did not appear to have archaeological potential so no shovel tests (STs) were excavated there. STs were excavated in the northeast and southeast quadrants. The locations of the STs are shown on the aerial photograph in Figure 5, and each ST is described in Table 1. Iredell Bridge 141 survey 2 Figure 1: Location of Bridge 141 in Iredell County. Iredell Bridge 141 survey 3 Figure 2: Northeast view of Iredell Bridge 141. Northeast quadrant Northwest quadrant Figure 3: Southwest view of Iredell Bridge 141. Southwest quadrant Southeast quadrant Iredell Bridge 141 survey 4 Figure 4: Topographic map of Iredell Bridge 141 (USGS Central [right] and Hiddenite [left] 1:24,000-scale topographic maps). Area of Potential Effects Iredell Bridge 141 survey 5 Area of Potential Effects Tobacco barn Old bridge remains Figure 5: Aerial photograph of the Area of Potential Effects showing shovel test locations. Southwest Quadrant Southeast Quadrant Northwest Quadrant Northeast Quadrant Iredell Bridge 141 survey 6 Table 1: Description of Shovel Tests. Shovel Test Description Northeast Quadrant 1 0-45 cm (0-18 in.) brown sandy loam; 45-62 cm (18-24 in.) orange-brown silty loam 2 0-46 cm (0-18 in.) reddish-brown sandy loam; 46-55 cm (18-22 in.) yellowish brown sandy loam 3 0-36 cm (0-14 in.) reddish-brown sandy loam; 36-65 cm (14-26 in.) brown sandy loam Southeast Quadrant 4 0-38 cm (0-15 in.) reddish-brown sandy loam; 38-60 cm (15-24 in.) light brown sandy loam 5 0-38 cm (0-15 in.) mottled reddish-brown/gray sandy clay with rocks Northeast Quadrant The survey began in the northeast quadrant. The landform is a level floodplain/ terrace from the creek northeast for approximately 90 meters (295 ft.) to a gently sloped ridge (Figures 6-7). The area was covered with pine trees planted in rows. The recent flooding had removed several feet of the creek bank and had deposited debris in the area, and some of the ground surface had been disturbed by recent heavy equipment work related to the retrieval of the former bridge. Three STs (1-3) were excavated along the south side of the road at a 15-meter (50-ft.) interval. Each ST was approximately 15 meters (50 ft.) south of the road. The soil consisted of approximately 40 centimeters (16 in.) of brown silty loam over reddish brown sandy loam. No artifacts were recovered from the STs. Figure 6: Northeast view of the northeast quadrant. Iredell Bridge 141 survey 7 Southeast quadrant The landform in the southeast quadrant is a narrow strip of floodplain from the creek southwest for approximately 40 meters (131 ft.), then a moderate slope up to a ridge. The land is currently used as a pasture (Figure 8). The recent flooding had removed several feet of the creek bank and had deposited a layer of sand in the area (Figure 9). Two STs (4-5) were excavated along the south side of the road at a 15-meter (50-ft.) interval. The soil consisted of 40 centimeters (16 in.) of reddish- brown sandy loam over light brown sandy loam in ST 4. The soil in ST 5 consisted of mottled red/brown/gray sandy clay with a dense stone content. ST 5 was located on the moderate slope up to a ridge. A drainage ditch was located approximately 40 meters (131 ft.) south of ST 5. Neither ST contained any artifacts. Southwest quadrant The landform in the southwest quadrant is a narrow strip of floodplain from the creek southwest for approximately 30 meters (100 ft.), then a steep slope up to a ridge (Figure 10). No STs were excavated in this quadrant. The recent flooding had removed some of the creek bank. The abutment of a previous bridge is located on the west bank of the creek approximately 60 meters (197 ft.) north of the bridge. (There is an abutment on the east bank of the creek, also.) The approach road to the old bridge runs from SR 1585 northeast along the base of the ridge (Figure 11). Figure 7: West view of the northeast quadrant. Iredell Bridge 141 survey 8 Figure 8: West view of the southeast quadrant. ST 4 ST 5 Figure 9: South view of the southeast quadrant. Iredell Bridge 141 survey 9 Figure 11: South view of the southwest quadrant. Figure 10: West view of the southwest quadrant. Iredell Bridge 141 survey 10 Northwest Quadrant The landform in this quadrant is a moderate slope up from the creek northeast for approximately 90 meters (295 ft.) to a ridge. No STs were excavated in this quadrant. The area along the north side of the road is a maintained utility right of way (Figure 12). There is a plowed garden located approximately 15 meters (50 ft.) north of the road. Examination of the ground surface in the garden did not identify any artifacts. The abutment of a previous bridge is located on the east bank of the creek approximately 60 meters (197 ft.) north of the bridge (Figure 13). There is an abutment on the west bank of the creek, also. It is difficult to determine the age of the previous bridge. The bridges the NCDOT have replaced in the 2000s were mostly constructed in the 1960s or 1970s. These bridges had replaced bridges constructed in the late 1930s and 1940s, which had in some cases replaced bridges constructed in the first two decades of the 1900s. So, we will assume the previous bridge had been constructed in the late 1930s. The bridge abutments are constructed of poured cement, and the cement supports are encased in corrugated sheet metal (probably added later). There are two un- articulated bridge supports located in the creek, also (Figure 14). There is an old tobacco barn or smoke house located approximately 90 meters (295 ft.) north of the bridge. The barn is constructed of logs, has a sheet metal roof, and a fieldstone foundation. The barn does not have any windows or entry doors. There is a ladder attached to the west side which may have led up to a hatch near the roofline (Figure 15). It does have a small door (approximately 4 ft. tall) on the east side (Figure 16). Tar paper covers the tops of the east and west exterior walls. There are sheet metal chimney flues located along the foundation on the east and west sides. There is an old propane gas supply line sticking out of the foundation on the east side. Figure 12: Southwest view of the northwest quadrant. Iredell Bridge 141 survey 11 Figure 13: South view of the old bridge abutment in the northwest quadrant. Figure 14: Southeast view of the old bridge abutment in the northwest quadrant. Bridge supports Bridge abutment Iredell Bridge 141 survey 12 Figure 15: East view of the old tobacco barn/ smoke house in the northwest quadrant. Figure 16: North view of the access door, gas supply line, and flue of the old tobacco barn/ smoke house in the northwest quadrant. Access door Flue Gas supply line Iredell Bridge 141 survey 13 It is difficult to determine the age of the structure. Tobacco barns were once a common feature of the rural landscape in North Carolina, and there are still many extant examples. This one may be somewhat older than many as indicated by the log construction and the fieldstone foundation. There are not many modern building materials visible in this barn, other than the sheet metal roof which was probably a replacement of the original. There are no visible bricks or concrete block used in the construction. Summary and Conclusion The archaeological survey for the replacement of Bridge 141 on SR 1585 over Snow Creek in Iredell County did not identify any archaeological sites. STs were excavated on the floodplain/ terraces overlooking the creek in the northeast and southeast quadrants. No STs were excavated in the southwest and northwest quadrants. The survey did identify the remains of the previous (1930s?) bridge, as well as an old tobacco barn/ smokehouse. No further work is recommended for the project.