HomeMy WebLinkAbout20210191 Ver 1_R.147 Archaeological No Survey Required Form_20210808 Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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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: na County: Stanly
WBS No: 17BP.10.R.147 Document: MCC
F.A. No: na Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE
Project Description: The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division 10 intends to
replace Bridge No. 35 on SR 1134, Millingport Road, over Long Creek southwest of Richfield. No
preliminary designs were available at the time of the archaeological screening, but a study area for the
project was submitted that measured 713.35 feet (nearly 217.43 meters) long and 200 feet (60.96 meters)
wide. This study area encompasses nearly 3.28 acres (almost 1.33 hectares). The establishment of an
area of potential effects (APE) for the proposed project is discussed below.
SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
In 2015, a request for archaeological screening was submitted for the proposed replacement of Bridge No.
35 on SR 1134, Millingport Road, over Long Creek (TIP No. B-5537; PA No. 15-02-0048). On March
26, 2015, a reconnaissance investigation was recommended for the proposed bridge replacement project.
At that time, aerial photography and historic mapping were interpreted to suggest an earlier road crossing
or mill features to the north of the existing transportation features. It was also noted that the project was
in close proximity to the recorded locations of the Miller House (ST0079), The Alonzo Miller Roadside
House (ST0081) and opposite the study-listed Henderson Rogers Farm. This assessment was further
reinforced by the results of the historic architecture survey, which was conducted in July 2015 by
NCDOT architectural historian, Kate Husband, who noted the remains of a mill dam “just north of the
bridge”. Those remains were note considered to be an eligible resource for the purposes of the historic
architecture survey.
This archaeological reconnaissance survey was conducted on March 10, 2017, by NCDOT archaeologists
Shane Petersen and Brian Overton. The investigation included a visual inspection of the entire proposed
APE. The existing 60-foot ROW along SR 1134 is characterized by severe disturbances associated with
the construction and maintenance of the extant transportation facilities. These disturbances include
grading, ditching, and cut banks, as well as presumed areas of fill. In the areas immediately adjacent
existing ROW, much of the APE is dominated by sloped landforms with a narrow alluvial terrace at the
base of the slope. No subsurface testing was deemed necessary for the proposed APE, and it is
considered very unlikely that any archaeological resources of significance would remain intact within
those areas.
As reported by Husband, the remains of a mill complex are clearly visible to the north of Bridge No. 35.
An examination of historic mapping isn’t definitive about the date that the mill first appears; the mill
pond can clearly be seen on the 1920 Rural Delivery Map for Stanly County and the structures that are
presumable associated with the mill building are illustrated on the 1938 State Highway Map for Stanly
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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County straddling Long Creek. The earliest mapping identified depicting the mill pond, however, was the
1916 Soil Map for Stanly County. There is some evidence that Millingport road may have been
originally oriented slightly farther north than the existing alignment (at least of the eastern side of Long
Creek) prior to 1970, when the existing bridge was constructed. Some of the earlier mapping, including
earlier United States Geologic Service maps, suggests the alignment might have been further north. The
area immediately adjacent ROW to the north of SR 1134 and east of Long Creek appears to be graded as
if it was once a road bed. Additionally, along the north side of SR 1134, but to the west of Long Creek,
an old ROW marker was noted roughly 17 feet (more than 5 meters) from the edge of pavement along
Millingport Road.
In any case, extant features observed included remnants of the stone dam, the stone and concrete mill
foundation (including what appeared to be a possible turbine bay), and concrete piers. No mill machinery
was observed on site. These features, recorded as site 31ST243**, were photographed and mapped via
GPS. Site 31ST243** was originally determined to lay well outside the proposed project area for B-
5537; the closest feature (a concrete pier) is located more than 67 feet (nearly 21 meters) north of the edge
of pavement on SR 1134 and nearly 33 feet (about 10 meters) north of the then-proposed APE. The
exception to this earlier assessment lies in the mill dam. The westernmost end of the dam extended into
the proposed ROW for B-5537 and ties into the existing easement along SR 1448, Miller Road. Cut-and-
fill lines depicted on designs for the B-5537 project were located immediately adjacent the mapped end of
the dam. Impacts associated with improvements to the SR 11334/SR1448 intersection to the mill dam
based on the B-5537 designs were considered insignificant in 2017 (though a very small portion will be
located in the new ROW).
To the southwest of Bridge No. 35, a cinder-block retaining wall/foundation remnant was observed at the
outside edge of the proposed APE (but outside proposed cut-and-fill lines). It is likely that these
structural remains are a good deal younger than the mill on Long Creek, although it is possible that the
structure was related at some point in the past. These structural remains were photographed and mapped
via GPS in the same way that 31ST243** was recorded, although they were not considered likely to be
impacted by the B-5537 designs either.
The current study area for the bridge replacement is considerably larger than the 1.9-acre area
encompassed by the APE in 2017 based on the B-5537 designs. Based on consultation with engineering
staff at NCDOT Division 10 (vis email on January 16, 2019), the APE for B-5537 will be considered to
be the current APE rather than the submitted study area for the purposes of this archaeological screening.
Given the location of the significant portions of 31ST243** well outside the proposed APE, this site is
not expected to be impacted by the current project. As per the conclusions of a meeting with the review
staff at the North Carolina Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on April 20, 2017, a site for m will be
completed and submitted to OSA. But, neither further archaeological or documentary investigations, nor
attempts to determine the eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places of 31ST243** will be
undertaken as a result of the bridge replacement project as currently proposed. The bridge replacement
project, as currently proposed, will be considered to be compliant with Section 106 of the National
Historic Preservation Act and North Carolina General Statute 121-12(a).
No further archaeological investigations are required for the project within the area established as the
current APE. Should the project change to include a larger footprint than covered by the current APE,
further consultation will be necessary. If the proposed project expands into the core portions of the mill
site, a full evaluation of National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) eligibility will be required for site
31ST243**. In the unlikely event that archaeological remains are encountered during the bridge
replacement project, work should cease in that area and the NCDOT Archaeology Group should be
notified immediately.
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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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 original APE was subjected to archaeological examination on March 10, 2017 and cultural features in
that vicinity were documented. This original APE, as outlined above, is considered to be the current APE
for the proposed project. No additional archaeological resources of significance are expected within this
area and no further investigations should be necessary as long as the APE does not expand from the 2017
limits.
SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Other: soil map
FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED
February 14, 2019
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Aerial photograph with 2-contours of the location for the APE (light green lines) for the proposed
replacement of Bridge No. 35 on SR 1134; note the APE for B-5537 (red lines), cultural (structural)
features including at site 31ST243** (orange crosshatched polygons), the old ROW marker (yellow dot),
and the historic Miller House location (blue dot).
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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View of Bridge No. 35 and the proposed APE at the intersection of Millingport Road and Miller Road
(facing east).
View of Bridge No. 35 from the north side of SR 1134 adjacent the Miller House property (facing west).
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Cinder-block foundation cut into the ridge-slope southwest of Bridge No. 35 (facing southwest).
View of mill remains from deck of Bridge No. 35 (facing north).
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Detail of the 1920 Rural Delivery Routes Map illustrating the location of the millpond along Long Creek
(red circle) at the project location.
Detail of the 1938 Stanly County Highway Map illustrating the location of the mill complex on Long
Creek (red circle) at the project location.
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Detail of the 1916 Soil Map for Stanly County illustrating the location of the mill pond along Long Creek
at the project area (red circle).
View of the eastern terminus of the proposed project adjacent the Miller House and a possible earlier road
cut at the crossing of Long Creek.
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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View of concrete support piers south of the concrete and stone mill foundation (facing north).
Concrete mill foundation wall, stone dam, and possible turbine bay (facing west).
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Rock wall mill foundation along Long Creek with Bridge No. 35 in background (facing southwest).
Stone mill dam along Long Creek at breach (facing southeast).