20240462 Ver 1_Polk County - B13 - Archaeology No Survery Required_20240325

Project Tracking No.
23-07-0003
N O ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM
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This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this
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project. It is not valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must
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consult separately with the Historic Architecture and Landscapes Team.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No:
WBS No:
Federal Aid No
BP14-RO42
BP14.R042.1
na
Federal Permit Required? ® Yes ❑ No
County:
Document:
Funding:
Permit Type.
Polk
State MCC
® State
USACE
❑ Federal
Project Description:
The project calls for the emergency replacement of Bridge No. 13 on SR 1128 (Howard Gap Road) over
the North Pacolet River in Polk County. The archaeological Area ofPotential Effects (APE) for the project
is defined as a 325 foot (99.06 m) long corridor running 125 feet (38.10 m) north and 200 feet (60.96 m)
south along Howard Gap Road f om the center of Bridge No. 13 [or the corresponding 75 feet (22.86 m)
north and I50 feet (45.72 m) south from either end of the bridge]. The corridor is approximately 125 feet
(38.10 m) wide extending 62.5 feet (19.05 m) on either side of the road from its present center. In all, the
APE encompasses approximately I acre.
Although this project is state funded, federal permits are anticipated. Therefore, this archaeological review
was conducted pursuant to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act and the Advisory Council
on Historic Preservation's Regulations for Compliance (36 CFR Part 800).
SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
Bridge No. 13 is located just north of Tryon in Polk County, North Carolina, and plotted in the northwest
corner of the Landrum USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle (Figure 1).
A site file search was conducted using data from the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on July 10, 2023.
The project area was previously surveyed as part of the TIP R-5838 (proposed widening of NC 108) project
in 2017 (Webb and Farrow 2018). Site 31PL119 was recorded north of the project area (Figure 2). This site
yielded Pisgah artifacts from the precontact period and 20th century historic material. The Pisgah component
at site 31PL119 is eligible for the National Register Historic Places (NRHP), while the historic remains are
not eligible. According to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) online data base
(HPOWEB 2023), the National Register Mill Farm Inn property (PL57) occupies the southwest quadrant.
However, no contributing archaeological resources to the eligibility of the property were identified during the
archaeological survey for R-5838. Topographic maps, USDA soil survey maps, aerial photographs (NC One
Map), historic maps (North Carolina maps website), and Google Street View application were further
examined for information on environmental and cultural variables that may have contributed to precontact or
historic settlement within the project limits and to assess the level of ground disturbance.
Bridge No. 13 and Howard Gap Road cross the North Pacolet River roughly north to south (see Figure 2).
The waterway flows generally east and south and is part of the Broad drainage basin. The APE falls within
the river's floodplain and rises onto low stream terraces at either end. This area is open with lawns or
agricultural fields with trees along the river (Figure 3). The bridge replacement will occur within the existing
footprint for the road and bridge, which is disturbed from prior road construction activities.
2020PROGRAMMATIC AGREEMENTARCHAEOLOGYTEAM "NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEYREQUIRED"FORM
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Project Tracking No.
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The USDA soil survey map for Polk County reports that the project area is covered by Buncombe loamy sand
(BuB) and Riverview loam (RvA) (USDA NRCS 2023) (see Figure 2). The soils are nearly level and
considered well or excessively drained soils.
As mentioned, the project area was previously surveyed during the R-5838 investigations (Webb and Farrow
2018). At least 13 shovel tests were excavated within and adjacent to the APE at 15-meter (ca. 49 ft) intervals.
All of which were negative. Extensive ground disturbance is reported in the northeast and southwest quadrant,
while additional disturbance from road construction is present alongside Howard Gap Road. Site 31PL119
was recorded during the R-5838 survey north of the APE at approximately 10 meters (ca. 33 ft) away (see
Figure 2). The site is bounded by consecutive negative shovel test towards the APE. It consists of Pisgah
phase artifacts (Mississippian period) with the high possibility of yielding intact subsurface features and/or
structural remains based upon the distribution and density of ceramics across the site. A low -density 20th
century component is present as well. The Pisgah component at 31PL119 is considered eligible for the NRHP
under Criterion D for the data it might provide. The site does not possess the qualities necessary for eligibility
under Criteria A, B, and C, and the site does not warrant preservation in place. The proposed replacement of
Bridge No. 13 will not impact site 31PL119.
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 replacement of Bridge No. 13 on Howard Gap Road in Polk County
is not likely to contain significant archaeological resources. The APE was previously tested with negative
results during the R-5838 investigations. While eligible site 31PLI119 was identified nearby, it does not
extend into the project area with its boundaries towards the APE defined by consecutive negative shovel
tests. As long as impacts to the subsurface occur within the defined APE, no further archaeological work
is recommended for the replacement of Bridge No. 13 in Polk County. If construction should affect
subsurface areas beyond the APE, additional archaeological consultation will be necessary.
This project falls within a North Carolina County in which the Catawba Indian Nation, the Eastern Band of
Cherokee Indians, the Cherokee Nation, the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and Muscogee
(Creek) Nation have expressed an interest. We recommend that you ensure that this documentation is
forwarded to the tribe 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:
FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST: NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED
C. Damon Jones
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST II
July 17, 2023
Date
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REFERENCES CITED
HPOWEB
2023 North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office GIS Web Service.
https://nc.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.httnl?id=79ea671 ebdcc45639f0860257d5 f
5ed7. Accessed July 11, 2023.
United States Department of Agriculture Natural Resources Conservation Services (USDA NRCS)
2023 Polk County Soil Survey. Available online at http://webosilsurvey.nres.usda.gov/gpp/.
Accessed July 11, 2023.
United States Geological Survey (USGS)
2013 Landrum, North Carolina 7.5 minute quadrangle map.
Webb. Paul and Fritz Farrow
2018 Archaeological Adverse Effects Determination, PA 17-06-0017, R-5838, Polk County,
North Carolina. In Programmatic Agreement for Minor Transportation Projects Annual Report
for FY 2017-2018, Multi County. Submitted to North Carolina Department of Transportation,
Raleigh.
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Project Tracking No.
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Figure 1. Topographic Setting of the Project Area, Landrum (2013), NC USGS T5 Topographic
Quadrangle.
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