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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20171146 Ver 1_Historic/Prehistoric Information_20170908 12-10-0035 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 1 12-10-0035 PROJECT INFORMATION Project No: Str.# 100217 County: Buncombe WBS No: 17BP.13.R.23 Document: Minimum Criteria Sheet F.A. No: na Funding: State Federal Federal (USACE) Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: Corps 404/DWQ 401 Project Description: The project calls for the replacement of Bridge No. 217 on SR 2402 (Old Farm School Road) over Grassy Branch in Buncombe County. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the project is defined as a 400-foot (121.92 m) long corridor running 200 feet (60.96 m) northeast and 200 feet (60.96 m) southwest along SR 2402 from the center of Bridge No. 217. The corridor is approximately 100 feet (30.48 m) wide extending 50 feet (15.24 m) on either side of the road 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 12-10-0035 “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. 217 is just east of the Blue Ridge Parkway and Asheville in the central portion of Buncombe County, North Carolina. The project area is plotted in the northwest corner of the Oteen 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 30, 2012. No previously recorded archaeological sites have been identified within or adjacent to the APE, but one site (31BN337) is recorded within a mile radius of bridge. In addition, no existing National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), State Study Listed (SL), Locally Designated (LD), Determined Eligible (DE), or Surveyed Site (SS) properties are within or adjacent to the archaeological APE according to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office online data base (HPOWEB 2012). 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 field and reconnaissance survey was conducted on November 6, 2012, to evaluate the project area. Bridge No. 217 and SR 2402 cross Cane Creek from the northeast to southwest (Figure 2). The stream drains south and joins with the Swannanoa River. These waterways are part of the French Broad drainage basin. The APE is situated primarily along stream terraces with a hillside slope in the southwest quadrant (Figures 3–4). Residential properties occupy both sides of the road with more recent development to the south. Stepped terraces leading from Cane Creek suggest that fill was used to raise the terrace in the southeast quadrant to alleviate potential flooding, while the southwest hillside was graded to help accommodate houses. Due to modern disturbance, no subsurface testing was carried out in this area. Testing on the north side of the road also shows that fill was used near to the stream. Overall, ground disturbance is heavy to the south of SR 2402, but minimal to the north. A review of the USDA soil survey map indicates that the project area is composed of two soil series (Figure 5). The stream terraces to the north are made up of Tate loam (TaC). This series is well drained with a slope of 8 to 15 percent. There is no hazard of flooding and soil erosion is slight. Typically, less than 25 percent of the original surface layer has been removed. This series has a high potential of yielding archaeological sites due to being fairly level, well drained, and close to fresh water. For these reason, subsurface testing was required in the northwest and northeast quadrants. The second series is the Udorthents-Urban land complex (UhB; UhE). These soils are usually a loam with slope of 2 to 5 percent along the terraces (UhB) and 2 to 50 percent on the hillside (UhE). Although the series is somewhat excessively drained to moderately well drained, urban development is high with heavy levels of ground disturbance. This is apparent with housing development. This series is unlikely to contain intact archaeological deposits, and no testing was recommended for this section of the project. Very few previous archaeological investigations have been conducted in the vicinity of the bridge with only one site (31BN337) being identified. Site 31BN337 was recorded by Western Carolina University in 1975 during investigations of potential locations for the Folk Arts Center on the Blue Ridge Parkway. The site is suited on a ridge toe overlooking an unnamed tributary to Grassy Branch. Artifacts collected include quartz debitage and a Guilford projectile point, which dates to the Middle Archaic period. The site was determined to be ineligible for the NRHP due to low artifact density and the presence of no intact deposits. Overall, additional investigations are needed in this area of the county in order to draw any firm conclusions on the predictability of site locations based upon previously recorded sites. Since a portion of the current project area is situated on well drained, undisturbed soils along stream terraces, subsurface testing from the current investigation will provide data needed to predict future site location and density models for the region. 12-10-0035 “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 from the 18th and 19th centuries provide only general details concerning the region illustrating just major roads and settlements. It is not until the 20th century that more accurate maps are published. The 1902 Mt Mitchell USGS topographic map is likely one of the first in which the project area can be located (Figure 6). This map plots a road similar to SR 2402 with a crossing over Grassy Branch near the current bridge location. The map also illustrates a structure northwest of the bridge. This structure appears to fall outside of the project limits and likely resides at the location of a current house. Later maps such as the 1920 Buncombe County soil survey map continues to show the same road lay-out with no major changes (Figure 7). As a result of this review, it is very unlikely for significant deposits associated with former historic structures to be impacted during the proposed bridge replacement. The archaeological field investigation at Bridge No. 217 consisted of four STPs (see Figures 2 and 5). Two each were placed in the northwest and northeast quadrants at 30-m intervals along the stream terraces. No STPs were excavated south of SR 2402 due to ground disturbance associated with the housing development. Excavated STPs display a layer of fill up to 50 cm (20 in) thick near Grassy Branch. However, STPs further away from the stream show no fill. The first true soil layer is a yellowish brown (10YR 5/4) or dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) loam that is 15 to 30 cm (6 to 12 in) thick. It is followed by subsoil, which is a strong brown (7.5YR 5/8) clay or clay loam. No cultural material was identified at any of the STPs and attempts at a surface inspection fail due to poor visibility. Results of the field investigation suggest that it is very unlikely for a significant site to be impacted within project limits. This is mostly due to a lack of cultural material, but also to heavy ground disturbance to the south of the road. The archaeological investigation for the proposed replacement of Bridge No. 217 is situated along stream terraces and an adjacent hillside slope to the southwest. The investigation suggests no significant archaeological sites are within the APE. The reconnaissance and field survey identified heavy soil disturbance associated with residential development to the south of SR 2402. It is unlikely intact archaeological deposits will be present in this area. Subsurface testing along stream terraces to the north of SR 2402 produced no cultural material. In addition, the historic map review suggests that no deposits associated with former structure are present as no historic features were identified within the project limits. As long as impacts to the subsurface occur within the defined APE, no further archaeological work is required for the replacement of Bridge No. 217 in Buncombe 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: 11/15/12 C. Damon Jones Cultural Resources Specialist, NCDOT Date 12-10-0035 “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, Oteen (1962; photorevised 1990), NC, USGS 7.5' Topographic Quadrangle. 12-10-0035 “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, and STPs within the project area. 12-10-0035 “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 stream terraces and hillside within the project area, looking southwest. Figure 4. General View of stream terraces and hillside within the project area, looking northeast. 12-10-0035 “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 STPs within the project area. 12-10-0035 “No Historic Properties Present” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. NCDOT Archaeology & Historic Architecture Groups 8 Figure 6. The 1902 USGS Mt. Mitchell topographic map showing the project area. Figure 7. The 1920 Buncombe County soil survey map showing the project area.