The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About20150388 Ver 1_AR12-10-0002effects_Alamance_ 267_20150422 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 1 12-10-0002 PROJECT INFORMATION Project No: Str. 000267 County: Alamance WBS No: 17BP.7.R.6 Document: Minimum Criteria Sheet F.A. No: na Funding: State Federal Federal (USACE) Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP# 3 or 14 Project Description: The project calls for the replacement of Bridge No. 267 on SR 1571 (Altamahaw Race Track Road) over Jones Creek in Alamance County. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the project is defined as a 600-foot (182.88 m) long corridor running 300 feet (91.44 m) northwest and 300 feet (91.44 m) southeast along SR 1571 from the center of Bridge No. 267. The corridor is approximately 150 feet (45.72 m) wide extending 75 feet (22.86 m) on either side of SR 1571 from its present center. SUMMARY OF FINDINGS The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) reviewed the subject project and determined: Archaeology There are no National Register-listed or Study Listed properties within the project’s area of potential effects. No subsurface archaeological investigations are 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. There are no historic properties present or affected by this project. (Attach any notes or documents as needed) Project Tracking No. (Internal Use) NO PREHISTORIC OR HISTORIC PROPERTIES PRESENT/AFFECTED FORM 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 2 SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: Bridge No. 267 is north of Altamahaw, south of Matkins, east of Osceola, and west of Lake Burlington in the northwestern corner of Alamance County, North Carolina. The project area is plotted along the eastern edge of the Ossipee USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle (Figure 1). A map review and site file search was conducted at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on October 8, 2012. No previously known archaeological sites have been identified within or adjacent to the APE, but four sites (31AM346, 31AM347, 31AM350, and 31AM351) are reported within a mile radius of the bridge. Also, no existing National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), Locally Designated (LD), Determined Eligible (DE), State Study Listed (SL), or Surveyed Site (SS) properties are within or adjacent to the archaeological APE. Topographic maps, USDA soil survey maps, aerial photographs (NC One map), and historic maps (North Carolina maps website) were utilized to gage environmental factors that may have contributed to prehistoric or historic settlement within the project limits and to assess the level of ground disturbance. An archaeological reconnaissance and field survey was carried out on November 5, 2012, to further investigate the project area. Bridge No. 267 and SR 1571 cross Jones Creek from the northwest to the southeast. The creek runs east and drains into Buttermilk Creek. These waterways are part of the Cape Fear drainage basin. A portion of the APE is situated within the Jones Creek floodplain with ponds to the east and west (Figures 2–4). It appears that this is an artificial floodplain created when Jones Creek was dammed. At the time of the survey, this area contained standing water. Gradual hillside slopes and ridge toes make-up the northern and southern ends of the APE. In general, the project area is mostly forested with residential properties to the south. The level of ground disturbance is severe especially west of SR 1571. Soil within the APE on this side of the road has been pushed in order to create a levee and to enlarge the roadside ditch. A buried fiber optic line and a power line corridor runs along the west side of the road as well. The eastern side is characterized by severe soil erosion with exposed large rocks at the surface. A review of the USDA soil survey map indicts that the APE is composed of three soil types (Figure 5). The floodplain or drainageway is shown as Appling sandy loam (AdC2). This soil is generally associated with hillsides and not found within floodplains. This suggests alterations in the landforms alongside the stream and ponds. The recognized hillsides and ridge toes are composed of Lloyd loam (LbC2) to the north and Cecil sandy loam (CcC2) to the south. All three soil types are considered well drained with a slope of 6 to 10 percent. Soil erosion is described by the USDA as light with a thin surface layer, but the field survey shows that it is more severe. While soil erosion can be a problem for intact deposits on these soils, it is not uncommon in Alamance County for them to yield sites that can provide useful information. For this reasons, subsurface testing was recommended. The site file review shows that few previous investigations have been conducted in the nearby vicinity. The largest systematic investigation was carried out by archaeologists with NC DOT in 1994 for the widening of NC 87 (TIP R-2560), which is to the west. This investigation recorded four sites (31AM346, 31AM347, 31AM350, and 31AM351) within a mile of the bridge. All four consists of lithic debitage scatters dating to an unknown prehistoric period. They are situated along ridge tops and ridge toes composed of Cecil fine sandy loam (CbB2) and have been determined as ineligible for the NRHP due to a lack of integrity caused by soil erosion. Based on this, it seems unlikely for an eligible site to be within the current APE. However, there is the slight possibility that an intact archaeological site could be present in the area if disturbance is minimal. A reconnaissance and possible field survey was recommended to determine the level of landform alteration and soil erosion within the APE and to identified any possible archaeological sites if intact soils are present. 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 3 The preliminary background check also includes a historic map review. Most early maps provide few details concerning the project area. The earliest in which an approximate location can be found is William Spoon’s 1893 map of Alamance County (Figure 6). This map shows no road or crossing over what appears to be Jones Creek. Subsequent maps from the early 20th century such as the 1901 soil survey for Alamance County appear to be copies of Spoon’s 1893 map with only slight variations (Figure 7). These maps continue to depict no changes to the project area. It is not until the publication of the circa 1910 U.S. Post Office map that a road similar to SR 1571 is illustrated (Figure 8). However, Jones Creek is not shown allowing only an approximate location of the current bridge to be determine. This location suggests that no structures are near the current APE, but there is one household to the north. Later maps like the 1938 Highway and Public Works Commission map for Alamance County show a similar picture with a house to the north (Figure 9). Regardless, it appears unlikely that significant deposits associated with a former structure will be encountered within the APE. The archaeological investigation at Bridge No. 267 consisted of five shovel test placements (STPs). STPs were excavated near the top of ridge toes and outside of obvious disturbed areas in each of the four quadrants (see Figures 2 and 5). The only quadrant to have more than one STP was in the southeast. In this quadrant, two STPs were placed at 30-m apart. Areas of disturbance include levee construction west of SR 1571 and standing water along with soil erosion to the east. Soil stratigraphy mostly consisted of two strata throughout the tested area. The surface layer is generally a 5 to 10 cm (2 to 4 in) thick dark brown (7.5YR 3/4) clay loam. It is followed by subsoil, which is a red (2.5YR 4/8) clay. In some areas such as in the south, an interface zone composed of tilled surface with subsoil is found between the upper and lower soil layers. Attempts a surface inspection fail due to poor visibility. No cultural material was identified at any of the STP. The archaeological investigation for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 267 is situated on a man- made floodplain and along hillside slopes and ridge toes. The investigation suggests no significant archaeological sites are within the APE. The reconnaissance and field survey identified severe soil disturbance and no cultural material within the subsurface test pits. Disturbance includes activities associated with pond construction and soil erosion. If sites were once present in the area, these disturbances would have destroyed any integrity making them unlikely to provide new or significant information. In addition, the historic map review suggests that no deposits associated with former structure will be encountered as no historic features were identified. As long as impacts to the subsurface occur within the defined APE, no further archaeological work is required for the replacement of Bridge No. 267 in Alamance County. If construction should affect subsurface areas beyond the defined APE, additional archaeological consultation might be necessary. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s), Previous Survey Info, Photos, Correspondence, Photocopy of notes from survey. Signed: 11/8/12 C. Damon Jones Cultural Resources Specialist, NCDOT Date 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 4 Figure 1. Topographic Setting of Project Area, Ossipee (1970) and Lake Burlington (1961), NC, USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle. 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 5 Figure 2. Aerial photograph of the APE showing development, landforms, man-made ponds, and shovel test placements within and near the project area. 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 6 Figure 3. General View of the pond, levee, and spillway to the west of SR 1571. Figure 4. General View of the pond to the east of SR 1571. 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 7 Figure 5. Aerial photograph of the APE showing development, soils, and shovel test placements within and near the project area. 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 8 Figure 6. William Spoon’s 1893 Map of Alamance County showing the approximate location of the project area. Figure 7. The 1901 soil map for Alamance County showing the approximate location of the project area. 12-10-0002 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 9 Figure 8. The circa 1910 U.S. Postal map for Alamance County showing the approximate location of the project area. Figure 9. The 1938 State Highway and Public Works Commission map of Alamance County showing the approximate location of the project area.