20211356 Ver 1_PA 21-07-0003 No Archaeological Survey Required Form Grace Drive widening Halifax (1)_20210913

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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: Grace County: Halifax
WBS No: 80075 Document: M C C
F.A. No: N / A Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: tbd
Project Description: NCDOT proposes to widen Grace Drive (SR 1710) in Weldon, Halifax County, NC.
Improvements may expand the ROW to the east of the existing facility. For purposes of this review, the
Area of Potential Effects (APE) includes all areas of construction, including new ROW and easements. The
length of the APE along Grace Drive is approximately 2200 feet (0.42 miles) with a width of 125 feet.
This project is state funded though may require USACE permitting, therefore it will be treated as a federal
undertaking to be reviewed under Section 106 of the Nation Historic Preservation Act at it relates to
archaeology.
SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
NCDOT proposes to widen Grace Drive from an existing two lanes to four lanes, an increase from a 60 ft
cross section to a 90 ft cross section. Towards the north half, some mapping show the road is named
Watkins Drive.
Archaeologists, Brian Overton and Shane C. Petersen, conducted an reconnaissance and pedestrian survey
of the APE length. The roadway passes through an area of past industrial development. The majority of
the eastern half of the APE, currently, is young secondary growth, parking lot or grass with a small amount
of forest on the southern end. Aerial images and visual inspections show a recent history of loggin by clear
cutting and the presence of either one or more structures or staging areas in the past fifty years. Due to
major modifications east of the road to be widened, the majority of the APE is considered to contain
disturbed soils, a poor context for intact archaeological desposits.
USGS mapping (Weldon) and aerial photography was studied (see Figures 1 and 2). Topography, contours
and soil types were examined. According to GIS data maintained by NCDOT archaeologist, Paul J. Mohler,
there are no mapped cemeteries within or nearby the APE. Streetview tools were not available, however,
older and several modern aerials show the location and changes over time. Historic maps were examined,
including a number of Civil War era plans for earthworks at Weldon, though there are none shown near the
APE. The 1916 Halifax County Soils map (MC.047.1916h) shows few structures or development west of
the town of Weldon north of the railroad near the APE. Later, in the fourth quarter of the twentieth century
after Interstate 95 was established, some industrial facilities appear on aerials. In the recent decade or so,
clear cutting for lumber left much of the APE barren of vegetation. Grading, utilities, ditching and
secondary growth covers the majority of the APE east of the roadway where lane expansion is planned.
Soils data was examined. Over 80% of soil type is Goldsboro fine sandy loam which has moderately well
drained landforms which make the terrain a location suitable for farming and other human use. Therefore,
typical archaeological sites like Native American campsites, processing areas, farm related buildings and
residences could occur, though they are not necessarily likely.
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Data from the Office of State Archaeology was examined using ArcMap to reference any known
archaeological surveys and sites. There are two previously recorded archaeological sites (31Hx171 and
31Hx172) in the nearby vicinity about 500 feet to the east and northeast of the project area, identified during
an archaeological investigation for power transmission lines (Bib No. 3129). Considered small and
disturbed by clearing and bulldozing, the two sites were not recommended as eligible for listing on the
NRHP. They are both outside of the project APE and will not be affected by the proposed widening.

This project falls within a North Carolina County in which the following tribes have expressed an interest:
the Catawba Indian Nation, the Tuscarora and the Haliwa-Saponi Indian Tribe. 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.
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 proposal to improve the existing facility, a roadway with broad ditches and shoulders, widening it with
additional lanes to the east. The construction footprint and APE partially overlaps the modern roadway and
ditching. Some new ROW or easements is expected immediately adjacent on the east side. There are no
recorded archaeological sites within the APE. Nearby to the east five hundred feet, two low density
archaeological sites have been documented though neither are NRHP listed or eligible resources. Identified
during compliance based archaeological survey, they will not be impacted by the current project.
The current conditions, including past and recent soil disturbances for agriculture, industry, roadway,
utility, and clear-cutting, suggest that significant archaeological sites exist or remain within the limited
APE. It is unlikely that intact, archaeological remains that may provide new knowledge or understanding
of the past would be present and impacted by the road widening. No archaeological survey is
recommended. For archaeological review, this state funded undertaking with federal permitting should be
considered compliant with Section 106.

SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other:
FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED
8/9/2021
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date
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Figure 1. Vicinity of the proposed widening of Grace Drive (SR 1710) on USGS mapping (Roanoke
Rapids and Weldon). The Area of Potential Effects (APE), shown in yellow, shows the potential
impact area. SR SR SR 1641
SR 1641 SR 1651SR 1651SR 1652SR 1652SR 1657SR 1657SR 1710SR 1710SR 1653SR 1653SR 1702SR 1702SR 1729SR 1729SR 1734SR 1734
SR 1662SR 1662SR 1664SR 1664SR 1704SR 1704SR 1661SR 1661SR 1400
SR 1400 SR 1657SR 1657SR SR SR SR SR SR SR SR SR
SR SR SR
SR SR
SR

SR

SR
SR
SR SR SR SR SR SR SR
SR
SR SR S R SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR
SR SR SR SR SR SR SR
Index-map
HALIFAX
NORTHAMPTON
Esri, HERE, Garmin, (c) OpenStreetMap contributors, and the GIS user community,
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA,
USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community, Copyright:© 2013 National
Geographic Society, i-cubed
±
02,0004,0001,000
Feet
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Figure 2. Aerial map at the proposed widening and additional lanes at Grace Drive (SR 1710) in
Weldon. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) is shown in yellow. Much of the APE has already been
modified by plowing followed by the existing roadway, utilities, drainage and clear cutting.SR 1710SR 1710S R S R SR 1702SR 1702SR 1734SR 1734
SR SR S R SR S R S R
SR SR
Index-mapHALIFAX
Source: Esri, DigitalGlobe, GeoEye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA,
USGS, AeroGRID, IGN, and the GIS User Community
±
0 500 1,000250
Feet
Project Tracking No.: 2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM 5 of 5 21-07-0003 Figure 3. Typical cross section of Grace Drive near Kennametal Road showing the existing two-lane roadway, shoulder, broad ditching for drainage, and clear-cut forest. Widening will occur to the right of the pavement shown here, towards the east, on graded, disturbed soils.