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Home My WebLink About20181268 Ver 2_Macon County - B9 - Historic Archaeological_20230719 Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0111 oo NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not All 0 valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the ; Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group. PROJECT INFORMATION V Project No: NA County: Macon WBSNo: 17BP.14.R.158 Document: Minimum Criteria F.A. No: na Funding: ® State ❑ Federal Federal Permit Required? ® Yes ❑ No Permit Type: NWP 3 or 14 and TVA Project Description: The project calls for the replacement of Bridge No. 9 on SR 1001 (Ellijay Road) over North Prong Ellijay Creek in Macon 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) north and 300 feet south along Ellijay Road from the center of the bridge. The corridor is approximately 150 feet(45.72 m) wide extending 75 feet(22.86 m) on either side of the road from its present center. SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: Bridge No. 9 is located east of Franklin in Macon County,North Carolina. The project area is plotted in the eastern half of the Corbin Knob USGS 7.5'topographic quadrangle(Figure 1). A map review and site file search was conducted at the Office of State Archaeology(OSA)on February 22,2016. One previously recorded archaeological site(31MA686)has been identified adjacent to the APE,while only a second site(41MA153) is within a mile of the bridge. According to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office online data base (HPOWEB 2016),there are no known historic architectural resources within the APE that may yield intact archaeological deposits. Topographic maps,USDA soil survey maps, aerial photographs (NC One Map),historic maps (North Carolina maps website), and Google Street View application were examined for information on environmental and cultural variables that may have contributed to prehistoric or historic settlement within the project limits and to assess the level of ground disturbance. Bridge 9 and Ellijay Road cross the North Prong Ellijay Creek north to south. The creek drains south and east and joins with the South Prong Ellijay Creek. These waterways are part of the Little Tennessee drainage basin. The project area consists of a narrow floodplain on either side of the creek with a stream terraces to the west(Figure 2). Steep hillside slopes are also present within the APE at the northern end and along the eastern edge. The creek runs alongside the road in the northeast and southwest quadrants. The floodplain and terrace south and west of the bridge are open consisting of agricultural properties. A dilapidated timber frame barn and shed are found immediately northwest of the bridge along with two eroded dirt farm tracks. Properties to the north and east are forested. US Forest Service property is to the east of Ellijay Road. A Forest Service access road intersects with Ellijay Road southeast of the bridge. This access road runs along the eastern edge of the creek for an undeterminable distance. Overall, ground disturbance appears minimal except at the barn and shed. Soil at this location is exposed and has experienced heavy vehicle activity causing an increase in soil erosion as a result. "No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED"form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 7 Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0111 According to the USDA soil survey,the APE is primarily made up of three soil types (see Figure 2). The floodplain is composed of Reddies fine sandy loam(ReA). This series is well drained with a slope of less than 3 percent. It is also subject to frequent flooding. The western stream terrace consists of Statler fine sandy loam(StB). It is also well drained with a slope of 1 to 5 percent. Lastly,the Evard-Cowee complex(EvE)is found on the hillsides. Although it is well drained, slope is steep at 30 to 50 percent. Slope of 15 percent or more is not typically tested, since it is unusual for significant sites to be encountered on these landforms. A review of the site files shows that the US Forest Service property within the APE was previously investigated by archaeologist David Dyson during the Ellijay Soil and Water Project in 2006. Adjacent site 31MA686 was recorded at this time. According to the project report,the site is located northeast of the bridge and east of the access road. But, OSA's maps place the site southeast of the bridge. Regardless of it location,the site consists of a scatter of lithic material from an unknown prehistoric period. It contains no integrity and was determined ineligible for the National Register. The second known site in the general vicinity is 31MA153. This site is located over 1,000 feet south of the project area along the eastern side of the North Fork Ellijay Creek. Little is known of this site except that it has generated prehistoric material. The presence of these two sites suggests that other prehistoric sites could be in the vicinity. However,testable areas with little disturbance and slope of less than 15 percent within the APE are minimal and not likely to yield significant deposits. The stream terrace is considered disturbed with the presence of the structures and dirt tracks. The floodplain south of the bridge between the road and creek is marginal. Finally,the level area east of the road has been previously inspected. A historic map review was also conducted. The 1907 USGS Cowee topographic map is one of the first in which an approximate location for the project area can be determined(Figure 3). This map identifies the North Prong Ellijay Creek as Knights Creek. It shows an early alignment for Ellijay Road with the road running along the east side of the creek. No crossing is in the immediate vicinity. It would appear that the current Forest Service access road follows a portion of this original alignment. In addition,no structures are plotted in the area. The circa 1910s US Post Office map illustrates a new alignment for the road,but the newly depicted crossing seems to be northeast of the current bridge(Figure 4). The road makes a curve to the east at the future bridge site and appears to follow the access road alignment. A structure is also shown west of the creek. This is likely either the barn or shed. The 1933 Soil Map for Macon County is a similar depiction but somewhat clearer(Figure 5). The current bridge alignment appears to have been established in the 1970s. As a result of this map review, it appears unlikely that any remains of significant historic structures will be encountered within the APE. 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 defined archaeological APE for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 9 in Macon County is unlikely to impact intact and significant archaeological deposits. This is due to steep hillside slopes, previously ground disturbance from soil erosion and vehicle activity along the terrace, and a minimal extend of undisturbed property between the road and the creek. US Forest Service property was previously investigated as part of the Ellijay Soil and Water Project and these results are considered valid for this review. As long as impacts to the subsurface occur within the defined APE,no further archaeological work is recommended for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 9. If work should affect subsurface areas beyond the defined APE, further archaeological consultation might be necessary. Also,this state funded project requires a Tennessee Valley Authority(TVA)26(a)permit. A copy of this form is being provided to TVA for their use in their Section 106 compliance including Tribal consultations as appropriate. Copies of this form are also being provided to The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, The Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, and The United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians. "No ARCHAEOLOGYSUR VEY REQUIRED"formfor the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 2of7 Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0111 SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: ® Map(s) ❑ Previous Survey Info ❑ Photos ❑Correspondence ❑ Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other: images of historic maps FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST NO ARCHAEOLOGY SUR VEY REO UIRED ��►---- 3/1/16 C. Damon Jones Date NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST "No ARCHAEOLOGYSUR VEY REQUIRED"formfor the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 7 Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0111 14 One Mile 7 Radius(Shaded) Around Project Area A,-Zi f r. ;&— J I 11_7 IJ 4., J11 WJ 17" A v I 04! I J Bridge 9 APE(R X1 kill Vol J . lf 'k* N U I N) N 0 i N Miles 1 500 w E Macon County Figure 1. Topographic Setting of the Project Area, Cot-bin Knob (1946; pliotorcvlscd 1978),NC USGS 7.5'Topographic Quadrangle. 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The circa 1910s Rural Delivery Routes for Macon County showing the location of the project area. `No ARCHAEOLOGYSUR VEY REQUIRED"form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 6of7 Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0111 Cr. Project Area ion �t ri Figure 5. The 1933 Soil Map for Macon County showing the location of the project area. `No ARCHAEOLOGYSUR VEY REQUIRED"formfor the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 7of7