20171210 Ver 1_Historic/Prehistoric Information_20170922 (3)

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM
This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not
valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the
Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group.

PROJECT INFORMATION

Project No: U-5840 County: Henderson
WBS No: 50231.1.D1 Document: Minimum Criteria
F.A. No: na Funding: State Federal
Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP 14

Project Description:
The project calls for the widening of SR 1547 (Old Airport Road) in Henderson County. The
archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the projects runs for approximately 1 mile (1.6 km)
from US 25 (Hendersonville Road) to SR 1551 (Mills Gap Road) and follows the existing road alignment.
The APE also includes a section that extends 400 feet (121.92 m) north and 400 feet south along SR 1545
(Cane Creek Road) from its intersection with Old Airport Road. The APE corridor measures
approximately 100 feet (30.48 m) wide extending 50 feet (15.24 m) to either side of the roads from their
center.

SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:

The Old Airport Road widening project (U-5840) is located south of Asheville and north of
Hendersonville at the northern edge of Henderson County, North Carolina. The project area is plotted on
the Skyland and Fruitland USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle (Figure 1).

A map review and site file search was conducted at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on July 14,
2016. No previously recorded archaeological sites have been identified within or adjacent to the APE.
According to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office online data base (HPOWEB 2016),
two historic properties are adjacent to the APE. The Calvary Episcopal Church and Rectory (HN 1059) is
a determined eligible property at the northwestern end of the APE; and The Meadow property (HN 4) at
the southeast end is listed on the National Register. No contributing archaeological resources to either of
these historic properties will be affected by this proposed project. 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.

Old Airport Road runs northwest to southeast along a ridge that slopes onto a high stream terrace and
ends in the Cane Creek floodplain (Figures 2 and 3). One drainage falls within the APE along Cane
Creek Road, south of its intersection with Old Airport. This unnamed drainage is a tributary to Cane
Creek and part of the French Broad drainage basin. This is likely a permit site. The overall project area
is highly developed with paved lots, drives, ditches, existing structures, a railroad, and buried utilities.
The landforms have also been shaped by cutting, filling, and grading to accommodate the road and
development.

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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According to the USDA soil survey report, four soil types cover the APE (see Figures 2 and 3). These
include Fannin silt loam (FaC; FaE), Bradson gravelly loam (BaB), Delanco loam (DeB), and Codorus
loam (Co). The Fannin series covers just over half of the APE and is situated along the ridge. It is
considered well drained with a slope of 7 to 15 percent for FaC and 25 to 45 percent for FaE. The
Bradson and Delanco series are found along the stream terraces and are also well drained to moderately
well drained with a slope of 2 to 7 percent. Lastly, the Codorus loam makes up the floodplain. It is
nearly level and moderately well drained to somewhat poorly drained. Although some of these series
have the potential to yield archaeological sites, previous ground disturbance has greatly hindered this
prospect. It is likely the soil survey was composed prior to development activities.

A review of the site files show several sites in the region, but none within or adjacent to the APE.
However, a couple of archaeological surveys have been carried out within the project limits. The
unnamed drainage to Cane Creek was investigated by Harvard Ayers with Appalachian State University
in 1978. This was for the Archaeological Reconnaissance Survey of the Hominy Valley Interceptor Sewer
Project and the South Buncombe Interceptor Project. The survey included the stream crossing on Cane
Creek Road (the likely permit location) and the properties south of Old Airport Road at the eastern end of
the APE. A small section of property at the northwestern end was also included in this survey. The
investigation consisted of field walking, surface scraping, and limited auguring in high probability areas.
A second survey was carried out by S&ME in 2015 along the floodplain at the eastern end of the APE as
well. This was for the Phase I Archaeological Survey Line T-01 Pipeline Replacement Project in
Buncombe, Henderson, and Polk Counties. This survey involved field walking and shovel test
placements at 15- and 30-meter intervals. Both investigation yielded negative results within the APE.

A historic map review was conducted for the project area as well. The earliest maps to depict the area
with any great detail are the 1892 and 1905 USGS Pisgah topographic maps (Figures 4 and 5). The 1892
map identifies a church which is likely Calvary Episcopal, but no road is represented as following the
alignment of Old Airport Road. The subsequent 1905 map, however, does illustrate a road similar to the
current road. A more complete picture is seen on the 1907 soil map for the County (Figure 6). The
church as well as a second church and unidentified structure are plotted. All are likely well way for the
project limits. As a result, it is not expected that any historic archaeological features will be encountered.

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 widening to Old Airport Road (U-5840) in Henderson
County is unlikely to impact intact and significant archaeological deposits. This is due to the extent of the
APE along previously disturbed areas caused by urban development. Areas of undisturbed soils within
the APE are very minimal. In addition, previous archaeological investigations along the unnamed
drainage and floodplain including the possible permit location have failed to identify significant cultural
resources within the APE. Finally, the historic maps show no significant former historic features within
the project area. As long as impacts to the subsurface occur within the defined APE, no further
archaeological work is recommended for the proposed improvements to Old Airport Road. If work
should affect subsurface areas beyond the defined APE, further archaeological consultation might be
necessary.

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence
Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other: images of historic map

FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
NO ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED

7/28/16
C. Damon Jones Date
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Figure 1. Topographic Setting of the Project Area, Skyland (1965; photorevised 1981) and Fruitland
(1965; photorevised 1990), NC USGS 7′5 Topographic Quadrangle.

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Figure 2. Aerial photograph of the APE’s western half showing development, contours, and soils within
and near the project area.

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Figure 3. Aerial photograph of the APE’s eastern half showing development, contours, and soils within
and near the project area.

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Figure 4. The USGS 1892 Pisgah topographic map showing the location of the project area.

Figure 5. The USGS 1905 Pisgah topographic map showing the location of the project area.

Project Tracking No.:
“No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEY REQUIRED” form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement.
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Figure 6. The 1907 Soil Map for Henderson County showing the location of the project area.