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Home My WebLink About20231120 Ver 1_Macon County - B231 - Archaeology_20230814Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0116 o NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not 1 tfill 0 ,1 valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group. - PROJECT INFORMATION Project No: NA County: Macon WBSNo: 17BP.14.R.155 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. 231 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) northeast and 300 feet southwest 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. 231 is located east of Franklin in Macon County, North Carolina. The project area is plotted near the eastern edge 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. No previously recorded archaeological sites have been identified within or adjacent to the APE, but one site (31MA686) 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 231 and Ellijay Road cross the North Prong Ellijay Creek from the northeast to the southwest. 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 drainageway with steep hillsides to either side (Figure 2). The creek runs alongside the road in the northeast and southwest quadrants. The area is forested with ground disturbance limited to the road cut. According to the USDA soil survey, the APE is primarily made up of three soil types (see Figure 2). The Cullasaja-Tuckasegee complex (CuD) runs alongside the drinageway, while the Evard-Cowee complex (EvF) and the Plott fine sandy loam (PwF) are found on the adjacent hillsides. Although well drained, these soils are steep. The Cullasaja-Tuckasesgee complex has a slope of 15 to 30 percent, while the Evard-Cowee complex and Plot series slope at 50 to 95 percent. Slope of 15 percent or more is not typically tested, since it is unusual for significant sites to be encountered on these landforms. "No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEYREQUIRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 6 Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0116 A review of the site files shows only one investigation in the general area. This work was carried out by archaeologist with the US Forest Service for the Ellijay Soil and Water Project in 2006. This project identified the only one prehistoric site (31MA686) within a mile of the bridge. The site is located to the south on a narrow floodplain. Due to the steep terrain within the current project area, it is very unlikely for any additional sites to be present within the APE. 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 crossing the creek at or near the current bridge location. The nearest structure is to the south of the crossing and well away from the project area. The circa 1910s US Post Office map illustrates a similar picture (Figure 4). However, the 1933 Soil Map for Macon County plots a new structure just northwest of the crossing (Figure 5). No evidence for this new structure could be found on Google Street View or aerial images as steep slope covers the entire project area. It is very probable that this structure was situated outside of the APE. As a result, 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. 231 in Macon County is unlikely to impact intact and significant archaeological deposits. This is due to steep hillsides with slope of 15 percent or more within the APE. 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. 231. 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. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: ® Map(s) ❑ Previous Survey Info ❑ Photocopy of County Survey Notes FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST NO ARCHAEOLOGYSURVEYREQUIRED C. Damon Jones NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST ❑ Photos El Correspondence Other: images of historic maps 3/2/16 Date "No ARCHAEOLOGYSURVEYREQUIRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 6 Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0116 frf�-.,,.,.-`r _.�f'l,�Y- '-�,�r S�i' S..._,._,•',r.� t`'__ ...!= ��:��Jr.'� _ f�. One Mile Radius (Shaded)�...;iJ �,4,y' Around Project Area =' r':-f i ; -. 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"- �r �Ir ��rrlr ��'l -1 0 1 N Miles 0 1.500 w E Meters Macon County rS+ Figure 1. Topographic Setting of the Project Area, Corbin Knob (1946; photorevised 1978), NC USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle. "No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 6 -r-_ � �� _______-�r�r►err r��IjrrI i f rr��r------------rrrri �itii�Ittt � r+✓a ;:ram : � � �� ---� � �rr�*/+t►~i�. ��Iett . rrrr----op tiol�� t4P4r OF `�/�� 000 •EVE►.__r_r *i1't 1It rrr ��►��_ 4►�- �ti�_--r+r jr 1i11i1 !f}♦i r►►rr ,�►� -mow ��_�--� .rrrr-�%`-� ►•;►______ rrr yrr- - - - - ~ fir• ►ir rrO- -- -- r _terr r Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0116 r - �� . J ect Area ,- • r Figure 3. The 1907 Cowee USGS topographic map showing the location of the project area. 4 Project Area \***4* a Figure 4. The circa 1910s Rural Delivery Routes for Macon County showing the location of the project area. "No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 5 of 6 Project Tracking No.: 16-02-0116 • ' a ■ r 7 ProJ'ect Area 100,61 r � Figure 5. The 1933 Soil Map for Macon County showing the location of the project area. "No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEYREQUIRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 6 of 6