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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210344 Ver 1_Ashe 122 No NRHP sites_20210511 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: County: Alleghany WBS No: 17BP.11.R.131 Document: Minimum Criteria Checklist F.A. No: Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP 3 Project Description: Replace Bridge 122 on SR 1549 (Garvey Bridge Rd.) over the North Fork New River in Ashe County. The Area of Potential Effects (A.P.E.) is approximately 234 meters (760 ft.) long and 18 meters (60 ft.) wide. The A.P.E. includes the area within 116 meters (380 ft.) from each end of the bridge and 9 meters (30 ft.) from centerline on each side of the road. No design plans were provided. 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 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 SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Other: Signed: CALEB SMITH 12/13/2016 NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date 16-02-0091 “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT OR AFFECTED form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 1 Archaeological Survey for the Proposed Replacement of Bridge No. 122 on SR 1549 (Garvey Bridge Rd.) over the North Fork New River, Ashe County, North Carolina By Brooke Brilliant, Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, Inc. December 2016 Introduction Bridge No. 122 is located on SR 1549 (Garvey Bridge Rd.) and crosses over the North Fork New River. It is located in northeast Ashe County near its border with Alleghany County, approximately 2.1 kilometers (1.3 mi) northeast of the Weavers Ford community (Figure 1). The bridge is orientated northwest-southeast, but will be considered north-south in this discussion. State Route 1550 (East Weaver Ford Rd.) meets SR 1549 just north of the bridge and New River Drive diverges west from SR 1549 south of the bridge. The bridge is situated in a narrow river valley surrounded by steep ridges (Figure 2). The confluence of the North Fork New River with the South Fork New River occurs just north of Bridge No. 122. A small unnamed stream joins the North Fork New River just southwest of the bridge. The area around the bridge is characterized by undeveloped wooded and grassy areas and scattered houses with yards. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for this project is approximatly 349.9 meters (1,148.0 ft) long and 18.3 meters (60.0 ft) wide. It includes the area within 115.8 meters (380 ft) from each end of the bridge and 9.1 meters (30.0 ft) from the centerline on each side of SR 1549. A reconnaissance of the project was conducted by North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) archaeologists Damon Jones and Caleb Smith on 30 March 2016. They determined that the landforms within the APE in the southwest quadrant had moderate to high potential for archaeological sites. The landforms in the northeast, southeast, and northwest quadrants had low potential. Figure 1. Location of Bridge No. 122 in Ashe County. Bridge No. 122 Page 1 of 11 Bridge No. 244 Figure 2. Topographic map of Bridge No. 122 (1966 USGS Mouth of Wilson, NC 1:24,000 scale topographic map [photorevised 1991]). Page 2 of 11 The archaeological survey was conducted by Luan Cao and Katherine Carter of Archaeological Consultants of the Carolinas, Inc. (ACC) on 27 October 2016. The following description was submitted to the NCDOT by ACC in December 2016. Background Research Background research consisted of an examination of topographic and historic maps and the listings of previously recorded sites, previous archaeological surveys, and previous environmental reviews at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) in Raleigh. A review of the 1912 Ashe County Soil map (Hardison et al. 1912) and the 1938 Ashe County Highway map (NCSHPWC 1938), as well as USGS topographic maps ranging from the years 1889 to 1962, depict the area as sparsely populated (USGS 1889, 1892, 1953, 1955, 1962). The nineteenth century topographic maps (USGS 1889, 1892) show the South Fork New River and the North Fork New River taking slightly different paths than the current depiction of these rivers. It is possible these rivers were drawn inaccurately or that their routes have been modified. The twentieth century maps depict the area much as it is today (Hardison et al. 1912; NCSHPWC 1938; USGS, 1953, 1955, 1962), suggesting the project area has changed little throughout the twentieth century. There are no recorded archaeological resources located within the Bridge No. 122 APE. However, a portion of the southeast quadrant of the APE was included in the 1978 archaeological reconnaissance of the New River Valley in Ashe and Alleghany Counties (Robertson and Robertson 1978). During this investigation, Robertson and Robertson (1978) identified thirteen archaeological resources (31AH90, 31AH91, 31AH107, 31AH108, 31AH109, 31AH110, 31AH111, 31AH112, 31AH113, 31AH114, 31AL63, 31AL64, and 31AL66) in the project vicinity (see Figure 2). Archaeological resources 31AH5, 31AH6, ALL-5, and ALL-508 are also located within a 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mi) radius of the project area (site forms on file). Table 1 summarizes the archaeological resources located within the project vicinity. None of these sites will be impacted by the replacement of Bridge No. 122. Table 1. Archaeological Resources within a 0.8 Kilometer (0.5 mi) Radius of the APE. State Site Number Other Site Number/Name Resource Description National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) Status 31AH5 - Late Woodland ceramic and lithic artifact scatter, midden present, short term habitation site Unassessed 31AH6 - Unknown prehistoric lithic scatter, no further work recommended Unassessed 31AH90 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric lithic scatter, within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AH91 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric lithic scatter, faunal/ethnobotanical remains present, within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AH107 - Rockshelter and Woodland lithic scatter, within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AH108 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric lithic and ceramic scatter, within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AH109 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric lithic scatter, faunal/ethnobotanical remains present, within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AH110 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric ceramic scatter, faunal/ethnobotanical remains present, within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AH111 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric lithic scatter within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible Page 3 of 11 31AH112 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric lithic scatter within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AH113 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric lithic scatter within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AH114 - Rockshelter and unknown prehistoric lithic scatter within Twin Rivers Rockshelter District Determined Eligible 31AL63 Oliver Site Unknown prehistoric lithic scatter Determined Eligible 31AL64 - Unknown prehistoric lithic scatter Unassessed 31AL66 - Unknown prehistoric lithic scatter Unassessed - ALL-5 No site form on file Unassessed - ALL-508 No site form on file Unassessed Background research also included an examination of records on recorded historic resources using the Department of Historic Resources Survey and Planning Division's mapping application web site. There are no historic resources located in or within a 0.8 kilometer (0.5 mi) radius of the APE. The primary soil types present in the APE of Bridge No. 122 are Colvard fine sandy loam, Evard loam, and Watauga loam. Colvard fine sandy loam is present in the northern portion of the APE and in the western portion of the southwest quadrant. This well-drained soil type forms on floodplains from loamy and sandy alluvium. Evard loam is in the southern portions of the northern quadrants. This soil type forms on ridges and mountain slopes and consists of soil creep deposits over residuum weathered from igneous and metamorphic rock. It is well drained and has a slope range of 25 to 45 percent. Watauga loam is present in the southern portion of the APE. It forms on ridges and mountain slopes and consists of soil creep deposits over residuum weathered from mica schist, gneiss, and/or micaceous metamorphic rock. This well-drained soil has a slope range of 25 to 45 percent (USDA 2016). Archaeological Survey The archaeological survey consisted of the examination of 19 shovel test locations along four transects. One transect was conducted approximately 10 meters (32.8 ft) from the pavement edge in each of the four quadrants of the bridge replacement project area. Figure 3 shows the shovel test locations in an aerial photograph, and Figure 4 shows the shovel tests in a LiDAR image. LiDAR, an acronym for Light Detection and Ranging, is a remote sensing method which uses lasers to collect three dimensional data about the ground surface (Jones 2010). A hill-shading effect can be applied to a LiDAR image to better view topographic features. This technique uses a hypothetical light source to create shadows which highlight minute changes in the ground surface (Jones 2010; Schuckman and Renslow 2014). Shovel tests were excavated at 30 meter (98.4 ft) intervals along each transect. These tests measured at least 30 centimeters (11.8 in) in diameter and were excavated a minimum of 5 centimeters (2.0 in) into sterile subsoil. All test fill was screened through 0.64 centimeter (0.25 in) wire mesh. Each shovel test was backfilled upon completion. Shovel tests were not excavated at locations with slope of greater than 15 percent or in clearly disturbed contexts. Global Positioning System (GPS) readings using a sub-meter accuracy Trimble GeoExplorer handheld GPS receiver were taken at each shovel test, except when the shovel test location was located in a potentially dangerous area, such as on extremely steep slope or in a waterway. In all areas, a comprehensive examination of all exposed ground surface supplemented shovel testing. Page 4 of 11 Figure 3. Aerial photograph of the project area. Page 5 of 11 Figure 4. LiDAR image of the project area (NCDOT 2016). Page 6 of 11 Northeast Quadrant. The APE in the northeast quadrant encompasses a narrow strip of floodplain between the North Fork New River and SR 1549. A dirt turnaround is situated on the eastern side of SR 1549, directly north of the bridge. The grassy landform alongside SR 1549 slopes down from the road to a swampy area along the river bank, which is characterized by tall grasses and scattered hardwoods (Figure 5). Four shovel test locations were examined in the northeast quadrant (Table 2). These shovel tests were placed in the grassy floodplain adjacent to the SR 1550 road shoulder. A representative shovel test profile for the area exposed 40 centimeters (15.8 in) of dark yellowish brown sandy loam overlying strong brown sandy clay loam with dense schist. This is similar to the expected soil profile for the area. No artifacts were recovered from this quadrant. Table 2. Shovel Test Locations Examined in the Northeast Quadrant Shovel Test Dig/No Dig Comments TR1 ST1 Dig 0-40 cm (0-15.8 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) sandy loam Below 40 cm (15.8 in) strong brown (7.5YR4/6) sandy clay loam with dense schist Located in brushy floodplain TR1 ST2 Dig 0-40 cm (0-15.8 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) sandy loam Below 40 cm (15.8 in) strong brown (7.5YR4/6) sandy clay loam with dense schist Located in brushy floodplain TR1 ST3 Dig 0-20 cm (0-7.9 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) sandy loam Below 20 cm (7.9 in) strong brown (7.5YR4/6) sandy clay loam with dense schist Located in brushy floodplain TR1 ST4 Dig 0-20 cm (0-7.9 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) sandy loam Below 20 cm (7.9 in) strong brown (7.5YR4/6) sandy clay loam with dense schist Located in brushy floodplain Figure 5. View of the northeast quadrant, looking south. Bridge No. 122 SR 1549 Page 7 of 11 Northwest Quadrant. Much of the northwest quadrant is a grassy pasture on a sloping ridge toe (Figure 6). A dirt farm road runs through the pasture and intersects SR 1549 in the southern portion of the quadrant. A gate is located at this intersection. Scattered hardwood trees ring the southern edge of the ride toe. A small area of brushy sloping floodplain is located adjacent to the bridge, between SR 1550 and the North Fork New River. State Route 1550 intersects SR 1549 at the base of the bridge and runs east-west, parallel to the river. Just north of this intersection, a gravel road veers off of SR 1549 and runs approximately parallel to SR 1549. Five shovel test locations were investigated in the northwest quadrant (Table 3). Shovel Test 1 was placed in the floodplain between SR 1550 and North Fork New River. The remainder of the shovel tests were placed on the western side of SR 1549. Steep slope prevented the excavation of Shovel Test 3. Shovel Tests in the northwest quadrant exposed varied profiles. The Shovel Test 1 profile exposed 80 centimeters (31.5 in) of dark yellowish brown loamy sand. Shovel Tests 2 and 4 exposed up to 30 centimeters (11.8 in) of dark yellowish brown sandy loam overlying strong brown loamy clay. The Shovel Test 5 profile consisted of dark brown clay loam over strong brown clay. These shovel test profiles are similar to those expected from the area. No cultural resources were located in the northwest quadrant. Table 3. Shovel Test Locations Examined in the Northwest Quadrant. Shovel Test Dig/No Dig Comments TR1 ST1 Dig 0-80 cm (0-31.5 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) loamy sand Located in grassy floodplain next to bridge TR1 ST2 Dig 0-30 cm (0-11.8 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) sandy loam Below 30 cm (11.8 in) strong brown (7.5YR5/6) loamy clay Located in grassy area adjacent to SR 1549 TR1 ST3 No Dig Not excavated due to steep slope Figure 6. View of the northwest quadrant, looking south. Bridge No. 122 SR 1549 Page 8 of 11 Southwest Quadrant. The landform in the southwest quadrant is sloping floodplain along the western side of SR 1549 which meets a ridge toe slope in the southern tip of the quadrant. The quadrant is characterized by manicured residential yards. The SR 1549 roadside is sporadically lined with brush and the occasional hardwood tree. New River Drive, a private gravel road, intersects with SR 1549 in the southern end of the quadrant and extends east-west (Figure 7). A satellite dish and a child’s playhouse were encountered in the vicinity of this intersection. Five shovel locations were examined in southwest quadrant. Shovel tests generally exposed profiles consisting of up to 30 centimeters (11.8 in) of very dark grayish brown or dark yellowish brown clay loam overlying strong brown clay. Shovel Test 1, located close to the bank of the North Fork New River, lacked a second soil stratum. The shovel test profiles exposed in the southwest quadrant largely agreed with the expected soil profiles for the area. Shovel Test 5 was not excavated due to steep slope. No artifacts were recovered during the investigation of the southwest quadrant. TR1 ST4 Dig 0-15 cm (0-5.9 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) loamy sand Below 15 cm (5.9 in) strong brown (7.5YR5/6) loamy clay Located in a pasture TR1 ST5 Dig 0-55 cm (0-21.7 in) dark brown (7.5YR3/4) clay loam Below 55 cm (21.7 in) strong brown (7.5YR5/6) clay Located in a pasture Shovel Test Dig/No Dig Comments TR1 ST1 Dig 0-80 cm (0-31.5 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) fine loamy sand Located in a grassy yard TR1 ST2 Dig 0-20 cm (0-7.9 in) very dark grayish brown (10YR3/2) clay loam Below 20 cm (7.9 in) strong brown (7.5YR4/6) clay Located in a grassy yard Figure 7. View of the southwest quadrant, looking south. SR 1549 New River Rd. Table 4. Shovel Test Locations Examined in the Southwest Quadrant. Page 9 of 11 Southeast Quadrant. The APE in the southeast quadrant primarily encompasses a steep wooded ridge toe slope on the eastern side of SR 1459 (Figure 8). The northernmost portion of the quadrant, adjacent to the bridge, is a sloping grassy floodplain. A portable toilet is located next to the bridge in this grassy area (Figure 9). This area is being utilized as a yard for a semi-permanent resident of a camper parked in a gravel area at the base of the ridge toe. Five shovel test locations were investigated in the southeast quadrant (Table 5). Only one shovel test (Shovel Test 1) was excavated. Shovel Test 1 was located in grassy floodplain in the northern end of the quadrant. It exposed 45 centimeters (17.7 in) of dark brown clay loam overlying strong brown clay. This profile is similar to the expected profile for the area. Steep ridge toe slope and in some cases a sheer cliff face inhibited the excavation of Shovel Tests 2 through 5. Previously recorded archaeological sites 31AH113 and 31AH114 are located on the ridge just east of the quadrant, outside the APE (see Figure 2). However, no cultural resources were located during the investigation of this quadrant. This is likely due to the extreme slope present in the quadrant, making it less conducive to human habitation. Table 5. Shovel Test Locations Examined in the Southeast Quadrant. TR1 ST3 Dig 0-30 cm (0-11.8 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) gravelly clay loam Below 30 cm (11.8 in) strong brown (7.5YR4/6) clay Located in a grassy yard TR1 ST4 Dig 0-30 cm (0-11.8 in) dark yellowish brown (10YR3/4) gravelly clay loam Below 30 cm (11.8 in) strong brown (7.5YR4/6) clay Located in a grassy yard TR1 ST5 No Dig Not excavated due to slope Shovel Test Dig/No Dig Comments TR 1 ST1 Dig 0-45 cm (0-17.7 in) dark brown (7.5YR3/4) clay loam Below 45 cm (17.7 in) strong brown (7.5YR5/6) clay Located in a grassy floodplain TR1 ST2 No Dig Not excavated due to steep slope TR1 ST3 No Dig Not excavated due to steep slope Figure 8. View of slope in the southeast quadrant, looking north. SR 1549 Bridge No. 122 Figure 9. View of grassy area in northern portion of the southeast quadrant, looking southwest. Bridge No. 122 Page 10 of 11 Conclusion. No archaeological resources were located during the archaeological survey of the Bridge No. 122 APE. The replacement of Bridge No. 122 will, therefore, not impact any significant archaeological resources. References Cited Hardison, R.B., Hugh H. Bennett, and Samuel Oscar Perkins 1912 Soil Survey of Ashe County, North Carolina. United States Department of Agriculture Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, Julius Bien Co., New York, NY. Jones, David M., editor 2010 The Light Fantastic: Using Airborne Lidar in Archaeological Survey., English Heritage Publishing, Swindon, UK. North Carolina State Highway and Public Works Commission (NCSHPWC) 1938 Ashe County, NC map. North Carolina State Highway and Public Works Commission. United States Public Roads Administration, Raleigh, NC. North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) 2016 Lidar image. Electronic Document. http://connect.ncdot.gov/resource/gis/Pages/Cont- Elev_v2.aspx, accessed October 2016. Robertson, Linda B. and Ben P. Robertson 1978 The New River Survey: A Preliminary Report. The North Carolina Archaeological Council and the Archaeology Branch, Division of Archives and History, North Carolina Department of Cultural Resources, Raleigh, NC. Schuckman, Karen and Mike Renslow 2014 Slope, Aspect and Hillshade. Electronic Document. www. education.psu.edu/lidar, accessed October 2016. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) 2016 Web Soil Survey. Electronic Document. www.websoilsurvey.nrcs.usda.gov, accessed December 2016 United States Geological Survey (USGS) 1889 Wytheville, NC USGS 1:125,000 topographic quadrangle. 1892 Wytheville, NC USGS 1:24,000 topographic quadrangle. 1953 Winston-Salem, NC USGS 1:250,000 topographic quadrangle. 1962 Winston-Salem, NC USGS 1:250,000 topographic quadrangle. 1966 Mouth of Winston, NC USGS 1:24, 000 topographic quadrangle, photorevised 1991. TR1 ST4 No Dig Not excavated due to steep slope TR1 ST5 No Dig Not excavated due to steep slope Page 11 of 11