20211283 Ver 1_NCDOT Alleghany 5 Archaeology review - No NRHP form_20211026

Project Tracking No.
21-06-0002
2020 PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENT ARCHAEOLOGY TEAM “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” FORM
1 of 8
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: Alleghany
WBS No: 17BP.11.R.152 Document: State Minimum Criteria Checklist
F.A. No: Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: USACE
Project Description: Replace Bridge 5 on SR 1133 (Pine Swamp Rd.) over the Little River in
Alleghany County. The Area of Potential Effects (A.P.E.), based on the study area provided by the
project manager, is approximately 233 meters (764 ft.) long and 122 meters (400 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 memo
(This project falls within a North Carolina County in which the following federally recognized tribes
have expressed an interest: the Cherokee Nation; the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians; the United
Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians; and the 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:
Signed:
CALEB SMITH 9/27/2021

NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date

Archaeological Survey for the Replacement of Bridge 5
on SR 1133 (Pine Swamp Rd.) over the Little River,
Alleghany County, North Carolina (PA 21 -06-0002)
Caleb Smith (9/27/2021)

Introduction

The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) proposes to replace Bridge 5 on SR
1133 (Pine Swamp Rd.) over the Little River in Alleghany County (Figure 1). The Area of
Potential Effects (A.P.E.), based on the study area provided by the project manager, is
approximately 233 meters (764 ft.) long and 122 meters (400 ft.) wide. While the bridge is oriented
approximately north-south, SR 1133 turns sharply to the northwest on the north side of the bridge.
Design plans show the bridge will be replaced with a new bridge along the west side of the existing
bridge (Figure 2). 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.

Cultural Resources Review

The bridge replacement project was submitted to the NCDOT Archaeology Team for cultural
resources review in June 2021 (PA 21-06-0002). Our review included an examination of a
topographic map (Figure 3), the Alleghany County web soil survey, an aerial photograph (Figure
4), and records about previously recorded sites, previous archaeological surveys, and previous
environmental reviews in the vicinity of the project. The topographic map shows the A.P.E.
includes level, well drained land along the Little River, a landform with a moderate to high
potential for prehistoric archaeological sites. The Alleghany County soil survey shows there are
landforms with well-drained soil in the A.P.E. The aerial photograph shows the land in most of
the A.P.E. is cleared (for agriculture and/or pasture). There are no previously recorded
archaeological sites within or adjacent to the A.P.E., the A.P.E. is not within any projects that have
been reviewed by the State Historic Preservation Office (HPO), and is not within any areas that
have been surveyed for archaeological sites. A visual examination of the project was conducted
on 6/18/2021. The examination found the northwest and southwest quadrants had a moderate to
high potential for archaeological sites. On 7/29/2021, an archaeological survey was recommended
for the northwest and southwest quadrants (see Archaeological Survey Required form [Smith
2021]).

Archaeological Field Survey

The archaeological field survey was conducted by NCDOT archaeologist Caleb Smith and
NCDOT Division 11 Environmental Officer Kevin Hining on 8/12/2021. Preliminary design plans
for the bridge replacement were provided in August 2021. The plans show the bridge will be
replaced along the west side of the existing bridge. The A.P.E. consists of a narrow strip of land
along the west side of the bridge and road. The impacts to the northwest quadrant do not include
any of the level floodplain in that quadrant so no shovel tests were excavated there.
Alleghany 5 survey memo
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Figure 1: Location of the project in Alleghany County, North Carolina.
Alleghany 5 survey memo
3

ST 1
ST 2
Existing bridge
Figure 2: Preliminary design plans for the replacement of Bridge 5 showing shovel test locations.
Alleghany 5 survey memo
4

Area of Potential
Effects
Figure 3: Topographic map of the Area of Potential Effects (USGS Whitehead, N.C. 1:24,000-scale topographic map).
Alleghany 5 survey memo
5

ST 1
ST 2
Area of
Potential Effects
Southeast
quadrant
Southwest
quadrant
SR 1134 (Harold Rd.)
New bridge
Figure 4: Aerial photograph of the Area of Potential Effects.
Alleghany 5 survey memo
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The impacts are limited to the slope along the west side of the road. The impacts to the southwest
quadrant do include a section of well drained floodplain. Two shovel tests (STs) were excavated
in that quadrant.

The southwest quadrant is a level floodplain that is currently used as cow pasture (Figures 5-6). A
small stream is located approximately 75 meters (246 ft.) south of the bridge. The creek runs
northeast through the southwest quadrant, goes under SR 1133, and turns north to run along the
east side of SR 1133 to join the Little River in the southeast quadrant. ST 1 was placed
approximately 15 meters (50 ft.) west of the road and 10 meters (32 ft.) south of the creek. The
soil consisted of 35 centimeters (14 in.) of dark brown silty loam over 10 centimeters (4 in.) of
mottled brown and gray sand. The top layer of soil was hard-packed, a common feature of soil in
pastures that have been churned up by cows. The sand is interpreted as being a deposit from past
river flooding. No artifacts were recovered from ST 1. ST 2 was placed approximately 30 meters
(100 ft.) south of ST 1, 10 meters (32 ft.) west of the road, and 20 meters (66 ft.) north of the small
creek. The soil in ST 2 was similar to that in ST 1, consisting of 40 centimeters (16 in.) of dark
brown silty loam over 10 centimeters (4 in.) of mottled brown and dark brown sand. No artifacts
were recovered from ST 2.

Summary and Conclusion

The cultural resources review of the replacement of bridge 5 included an examination of a
topographic map, the Alleghany County soil survey, an aerial photograph, and records about
previously recorded archaeological sites, previous archaeological surveys, and projects that have
been reviewed by HPO. It also included an archaeological reconnaissance of the project area. An
Archaeological Survey Required form was submitted on 7/29/2021. The archaeological survey
was conducted on 8/12/2021. Two STs were excavated in the southwest quadrant of the bridge
replacement. The STs did not contain any artifacts. No additional archaeological survey is
required.

References Cited

Smith, Caleb
2021 Archaeological Survey Required form, Replacement of Bridge 5 on SR 1133 (Pine Swamp
Rd.) over the Little River in Alleghany County, North Carolina (PA 21-06-0002).
Archaeology Team, Environmental Analysis Unit, N.C. Department of Transportation,
Raleigh. Form submitted on 7/29/2021.

Alleghany 5 survey memo
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Figure 6: North view of shovel tests 1 and 2 in the southwest quadrant.
ST 1
ST 2
Figure 5: South view of the southwest quadrant.
ST 1