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Home My WebLink About20161029 Ver 1_Other Agency Correspondence_20161026Project Tracking No.: 15-04-0009 NO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES o� '��' �� ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES .�'�'�,� ��Q� PRESENT OR AFFECTED FORM t� � �' fI2 -��.;�;� [�'�: i ._. o "¢-o.�"° '� This form onl ertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this ro'ect. It is not . `�� Y P P J � .`''•..r......�. ��-,�`.�"`-¢-� valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the �.`�� Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group. PROJECT INFORMATION Project No. WBS No Structure 780171 17BP.7.R.102 County: Document: Rockingham Attachment G F.A. No: N/A Funding: � State ❑ Federal Federal Permit Required? ❑ Yes ❑ No Permit Type.• To Be Determined Project Description: NCDOT's Division 7 proposes to replace Bridge No. 171 on SR 1515 (Snead Road) over Buffalo Creek in Rockingham County. Bridge No. 171 was built in 1955, and is considered to be functionally obsolete. There may be minar ditch-line impacts, and an off-site detour is to be used during construction. The Area of Potential Effects (APE) will measure approximately 50 feet to either side of the centerline of the roadway/bridge and 493 feet from either end of the bridge. Based on these measurements and the size of the existing bridge, the APE measures approximately 103,527 square feet or about 2.38 acres, inclusive of the existing roadway and the existing structure to be replaced. SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Archaeology Group reviewed the subject project and determined: There are no National Register listed ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES within the project's area of potential effects. 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. There are no National Register Eligible or Listed ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES present or affected by this project. (Attach any notes or documents as needec� Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: A map review and site file search was conducted at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on Monday, Apri120, 2015. An archaeological survey at this particular bridge location has never been conducted, yet one (1) archaeological site has been recorded within one-half (1/2) mile of the proposed project. Digital copies of HPO's maps (Southwest Eden, Northwest Eden, Price, and Mayodan Quadrangles) as well as the HPOWEB GIS Service (http://gis.ncdcr.gov/hpoweb/) were last reviewed on Thursday, Apri130, "NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTE'D ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT OR AFFE'CTED form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 6 Project Tracking No.: 15-04-0009 2015. There are no known historic architectural resources within the vicinity of the project area that may have intact archaeological deposits within the footprint of the proposed project. In addition, topographic maps, historic maps (NCMaps website), USDA soil survey maps, and aerial photographs were utilized and inspected to gauge environmental factors that may have contributed to historic ar prehistoric settlement within the project limits, and to assess the level of modern, slope, agricultural, hydrological, and other erosive-type disturbances within and surrounding the archaeological APE. As stated in the Survey Required Form for this project, "At this time, the need for a Federal permit and temporary/permanent easements has not been deternuned. In addition, this is a State-funded project. For now, there appears to be no Federal connection for this project. Moreover, we are in compliance with NC GS 121-12a since there are no eligible (i.e. National Register-listed) archaeological resources located within the project's Area of Potential Effects (APE) that would require our attention. All proposed project activities are to take place within the proposed APE, defined as 50 feet to either side of centerline and 493 feet from either end of the bridge. Since NCDOT's existing ROW along SR 1515 (Snead Road) measures 60 feet wide, there may be environmental impacts beyond what is currently owned/maintained by the NCDOT. A 100-foot ROW is being proposed. From an environmental perspective, the APE falls within the Piedmont physiographic region, consists of the floodplain for Buffalo Creek and the rolling/undulating terrain characteristic of the region, and is composed of five (5) soil types: Pacolet sandy clay loam, 15-25% slopes, eroded (PcE2), Chewacla loam (Ck), Congaree loam (Co), Hiwassee loam, 2-8% slopes (HwB), and Cecil sandy clay loam, 2-8% slopes, eroded (CdB2). The proposed project area consists of somewhat poorly drained and moderately well drained soils that are frequently flooded for brief periods of time. In fact, a large section of the project area is categorized as a Flood Hazard Zone, based on overlays of floodplain mapping. The drainage is also flanked by eroded soils, which would call into question stratigraphic integrity. However, a small section of well-drained soils typical of high stream terraces is present within the APE. More importantly though, an archaeological site, recorded simply as 1985 LTNC S&P (PA4), was recarded about 1,200 feet southeast of Bridge No. 171 in a field on the north side of Buffalo Creek. Such a setting is very similar to a small portion of the proposed APE. Labelled SW Eden PA4 as part of Simpkins and Petherick's report on Late Aboriginal Settlement Systems in the Eno, Haw, and Dan River Drainages, the site consisted of mussel shell, animal bone, ceramics, triangular ppts., and Archaic ppts, but was apparently never looked at since it was listed under "Appendix F: Reports, Rumars, and Unvisited Sites." Nevertheless, since prehistoric archaeological components were documented within the vicinity Bridge No. 171 and within similar soil conditions and topographical setting, there is the potential for intact archaeological deposits to be located within the defined APE for proposed project. Based on the information provided, an archaeological survey is, therefore, recommended for the proposed project. A visual inspection of the entire Area of Potential Effects (APE) should be conducted first, followed then by systematic archaeological excavations within areas of moderate to high archaeological probability. Should the description of this project change or design plans be made available prior to construction, additional consultation regarding archaeology will be required." Field investigations around Bridge No. 171 on SR 1515 (Snead Road) occurred on Wednesday, May 20, 2015, and were comprised of pedestrian survey and systematic shovel testing to locate and assess potentially significant archaeological remains that could be damaged or destroyed by the proposed project as described above. The entire extent of the project's APE was visually inspected in order to determine the need for excavations. Six (6) shovel tests were excavated, two within the in the Northeast Quadrant of the intersection of SR 1515 (Snead Road) and SR 1509 (Wray Road) with the other four located directly across SR 1515 (Snead Road) in the woods on the bank of Buffalo Creek. No archaeological material was recovered from any of the shovel tests, although a fractured piece of quartz was recovered from STP 3, which was then treated as positive in the field. Afterwards, analysis of the piece within the lab could not detect any indications of being cultural. Please refer to the Shovel Test Discussion for detailed descriptions (soil strata, color, and texture) of each shovel test. As noted in the discussion, erosion is more prevalent than is recorded in the current soil surveys for the county. The field east of SR 1509 "NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT OR AFFECTED form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 6 Project Tracking No.: 15-04-0009 (Wray Road) consists of scrub vegetation with very little root mat; surface visibility was about 75%. Both shovel tests in this location hit subsoil within a few inches of the ground surface and consisted of friable yet "baked out" clay. Although some semblance of soil stratigraphy was noted in the shovel tests in the woods south of SR 1515 (Snead Road), the overall depths of the strata would suggest that erosion has played a factor here as well. No overlying layer of loam was detected. Only layers of clay loam and clay are present. What was detected in the field would equate to the upper and lower parts of the subsoil for this region. The surface layer and parts of the upper portion of the subsoil layer have clearly been eroded. No attempt was made to re-establish the location of the site recarded as "1985 iJNC S&P (PA4)," since its location places it well beyond the limits of the APE defined for the proposed project. In the end, no archaeological sites were recorded within the project's Area of Potential Effects (APE). Therefore, no further archaeological work is recommended prior to construction. A finding of "no historic properties" is considered appropriate in association with this bridge replacement project. Should the description of this project or design plans change prior to construction, then additional consultation regarding archaeology will be required. If archaeological materials are uncovered during project activities, then such resources will be dealt with accarding to the procedures set forth far "unanticipated discoveries," to include notification of NCDOT's Archaeology Group. Shovel Test Discussion: STP l: 0-6cmbs, SYR 3/4, clay; no cultural material STP 2: 0-14cmbs, SYR 3/4, clay/clay loam; no cultural material STP 3: 0-20cmbs, SYR 4/4, clay loam; 20-29cmbs, SYR 3/4, clay; angular/blocky quartz STP 4: 0-12cmbs, SYR 4/4, clay loam; 12-18cmbs, SYR 3/4, clay; weathered/water-worn quartz cobbles throughout suggestive of a meandering streambed STP 5: 0-20cmbs, SYR 4/4, clay loam; 20-28cmbs, SYR 3/4, clay; no cultural material STP 6: 0-8cmbs, SYR 3/4, clay; no cultural material (similar to STP 1) SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: � Map(s) Signed: � � NCDOT ARCHAE O ❑ Previous Survey Info IST � Photos ❑Correspondence May 21, 2015 Date "NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT OR AFFECTED form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 6 Project Tracking No.: 15-04-0009 Figure 1: Southwest Eden, NC (USGS 1971). Photo 1: Bridge No. 171, looldng Southwest. "NO NATLONAL RECISTER ELLGIBLE OR L]STED ARCIIAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT OR AFFECTED form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualifi'ed in the 2007 Programmalic Agreement. 4of6 Project Tracking No.: 15-04-0009 Photo 2: Location of STPs 1 and 2 in field east of SR 1509 (Wray Road), looking East. �5 �; "' �� `�°��h`"5� , T � tg„�t�� "�' r�. r� -.�a s�� ',�n,�. � ' �. �w. ,� � w�� ".-- ��'�`"�;' � �;�4 � v �+ �-". �� .. W.�: _ : _' ,-. .�;�} . �€"'.�� ,. � . � •.., �+;. •. � * � ' � r �, �, � � .o k,�,��.� �� 'r��x ��^ � �� ..; � t .� d�;�. �, Y - 5 •• -�' Sf.�� '.� iE.i�Y�.:s .. �<'�� Y . - _ � 1'",,U� � : _ 5 � � i'�,1 � t j�u :r�A" F„, �r 8 I '�`�,'�� . ' �y"�.w yu;� 'w.�7f 3�� ... r�t - . _ -.-'�' .i." � . — _ . _ . _ � . � �� + . '�'�'� � ... �,� �� 4 . . � � ��i`� , 'e:. Photo 3: Bridge No. 171, loolcing West (STPs 3-5 in the woods to the left in the photo). "NO NATLONAL RECISTER ELLGIBLE OR L]STED ARCIIAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT OR AFFECTED form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualifi'ed in the 2007 Programmalic Agreement. 5 of 6 Project Track��ng No.: 15-04-0009 Photo 4: Locaiion of STP 6, looking South. "NO NATLONAL RECISTER ELLGIBLE OR L]STED ARCIIAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT OR AFFECTED form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualifi'ed in the 2007 Programmalic Agreement. 6of6 *�`�S �� rt - �",�p�� *�� . ..,� ` �, �--._ � "� � , � ` �l • .f � �; ��'�L �y j� " � � . �. ' �;1 ,. .�,; � a f 'y�r/'�• :� , ',�� ; L ; r"'= j''� w " ".`r �r., � �, � : i� � J�;, r� , t,;, � . % ��. � , . .�'"�: � ; � �' ' . -d�,� , �, � �"`,,�' '� �'tf x!�' � ,, - � s. �t I �` 'J�,p ,� • ��`''.,,�„ , � '~^ :�''`�i� Y [• r � � �+ '�� a.: ' r �,, ; �r, ' _ �! 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