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Home My WebLink About20181302 Ver 1_U-5818_Archaeology_9/25/2018 10:01 AMDocuSign Envelope ID: C0494E9C-B962-4BE2-B698-E2ED76F52047 Project Tracking No.: 17-01-0010 NO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES >oQ�'� ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES ,..�:.�.�^��,� ,,. �.p,�... i��'� � �� " PRESENT FORM ��' � � � � Q�1� 1 `� :� ' _. � �'a:..,. ;�.� This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not �;��•..r. :�� `:� valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the �� Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group. PROJECT INFORMATION Project No. WBS No: F.A. No: U-5818 44390.1.1 na Federal Permit Required? County: McDowell Document: State Minimum Criteria Funding: � State ❑ Federal � Yes ❑ No Permit Type: NWP# 3 or 14 Project Description: The project calls for the improvement (widening) of SR 1001 (Sugar Hill Road) and the replacement of Bridge No. 128 over I-40 at Exit 81 in McDowell County. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the project is defined as an approximate 3,900 foot (1,188. 72 m) long corridor running 1, 600 feet (487.68 m) northeast and 2,300 feet (701.04 m) southwest along Sugar Hill Road from the center of Bridge No. 128. The APE corridor also includes the ramps and an extension southwest along SR 1358 (Worley Road) for approximately 1,900 feet (579.12 m) from its intersection with Sugar Hill Road. The width of the APE corridor varies from approximately 350 feet (106.68 m) at its eastern end to 945 feet (288.04 m) at its west extending approximately 200 feet (60.96 m) east from the center of Sugar Hill Road and 1 SO to 745 feet (45. 72 to 227.08 m) west. In all, the APE encompasses approximately 64 acres. 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 or eligible ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES present within the project's area of potential effects. (Attach any notes or documents as needed) ❑ 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. "NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT" form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: C0494E9C-B962-4BE2-B698-E2ED76F52047 Project Tracking No.: 17-01-0010 Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: The Sugar Hill Road improvement and replacement of Bridge No 128 project is located south of Marion at Exit 81 on I-40 in the southern portion of McDowell County, North Carolina. The project area is plotted in the southeast corner of the Marion West USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle (Figure 1). A map review and site file search was conducted at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on January 20, 2017. No previously recorded archaeological sites have been identiiied within the APE or within a mile of the project area. According to the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office online data base (HPOWEB 2017), 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), and historic maps (North Carolina maps website) 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. An archaeological investigation was carried out on January 25, 2017, to help further evaluate the project area. The improvement project is situated northeast to southwest over a narrow floodplain with hillside slopes to either side (Figure 2). A high stream terrace is also present on the north side of Worley Road as well as a lower stream terrace. This lower terrace is in the northwestern corner along an unnamed tributary. It occupies only a very minimal and insignificant portion of the APE. Muddy Creek is the major waterway running through the floodplain just south of I-40. It is part of the Catawba drainage basin. In addition, two unnamed tributaries to the northwest merger and run under I-40 before emptying into Muddy Creek. While, a third drainage is to the northeast, and it too runs under I-40 before joining with Muddy Creek near Bridge No. 128. All waterways have been modified to allow for I-40. The project area consists of urban development to the north of I-40 and in the southwestern corner. This includes paved lots, commercial buildings, and cut terraces or slopes. Some residential properties and grassy fields are also found to the north and southwest along heavily eroded and/or graded landforms. One particular field in the southwest section just west of the ramps and north of Sugar Hill Road appears to have been stripped flat with the neighboring residential property several meters above the field. The forested areas are mainly to the south of I-40 on steep and stony hillsides and in the floodplain between I-40 and Sugar Hill Road. The USDA soil survey for McDowell County does not appear to take into account soils altered by the construction of I-40. Disturbed soils associated with Interstate work in other counties are often identified along the roadway corridor, but this is not the case for McDowell County. According to the McDowell report, the floodplain is composed of Colvard loam (CoA) and Iotla sandy loam (IoA) (see Figure 2). The Colvard series covers most of the floodplain to the east, while Iotla is in the west. Both series are nearly level and subject to occasional flooding. However, Colvard is well drained, and Iotla is somewhat poorly drained. Typically, the Colvard series has characteristics that make it highly potential to yield significant information on early settlement activities but, this series has been greatly disturbed within the APE from roadwork and stream modification. The Iotla series is also been subjected to disturbance with much it covered over with impervious material associated with a commercial gas station. Regardless, the Iotla series would not have likely yielded archaeological material due to persistent wetness, which makes it unsuitable for early settlements. The hillsides within the APE consists of the Hayesville-Evard complex (HeD) and the Chestnut-Ashe complex (CaF). Although well drained, these series have a slope in excess of 15 percent. Slope of 15 percent or more is not usually tested since it is very unlikely to contain archaeological resources. Lastly, the terraces are composed of Hayesville clay loam (HeC2), Hayesville- Urban land complex (HuC), Elsinboro loam (EsB), and Udorthents loam (Uo). The Hayesville and Hayesville-Urban series are situated on the high stream terraces and are well drained with a slope of 6 to 15 percent. Soil erosion is strong on the Hayesville series with subsurface observed at the surface. North of Worley Road, the soil has been removed by several feet in order to erect commercial buildings. Most of these areas identiiied as Hayesville are now likely considered Udorthents loam, which are soils that have been cut, filled, graded, and shaped and no longer retain any of their original characteristics. These "NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT" form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: C0494E9C-B962-4BE2-B698-E2ED76F52047 Project Tracking No.: 17-01-0010 soils will not contain intact or significant archaeological resources. The Elsinboro loam is found on the lower stream terrace in the northwest portion of the APE. It is well drained, rarely floods, and has a slope of 1 to 4 percent. Much of it is disturbed from roadworks within the APE, but a very small area in a grassy meadow south of Worley Road appears to be intact. Due to its limited size and location at the periphery of the APE, it is very unlikely any intact and significant resources will be impacted. A review of the site files at OSA shows no archaeological resources in the vicinity. A few archaeological reviews have been carried out by OSA far businesses and utilities along Sugar Hill Road but no surveys have been recommended. This is likely due to the poor quality of soils and disturbance along the road. A historic map review was also conducted. The first map in which an accurate location for the project area could be determined is on the 1902 USGS Mount Mitchell topographic map (Figure 3). This map illustrates a road well north of Muddy Creek with a similar alignment as the north portion of Sugar Hill and/or Worley Roads, but no structures are identified. The subsequent 1922 Rural Delivery Map for McDowell County shows a similar road layout but with the addition of the Poole residence approximately south of the current Sugar Hill and Worley Road intersection (Figure 4). Any evidence of this structure was more than likely destroyed with the construction of I-40. The 1938 North Carolina State Highway Map for McDowell County depicts more development along the road but few other changes (Figure 5). The next biggest alteration to the landscape is the addition of I-40 during the 1960s. Overall, it seems unlikely that any deposits associated with historic structures will be encountered within the APE. The archaeological investigation included a walk-over of the project area with judgmental subsurface tests to determine soil characteristics. The walk-over confirmed that most of the area was obviously disturbed from development activities. Paved lots and stripped soils were seen mainly to the north with a few additional areas to the south. Soil erosion is also widespread. Soils were probed in residential yards, which produced subsurface at or within 1 to 2 cm from the surface. The surface inspection identified no cultural materiaL Four subsurface test pits were also placed along Muddy Creek between I-40 and Sugar Hill Road (see Figure 2). Soils in each contained a thin layer of alluvial soil over either fill or dark brown (7.SYR 3/3) clay loam. Fill was generally thick in two of the pits with no subsurface encountered. Excavations in those tests with fill did not extending past 50 cm in depth. Those two pits with the dark brown soil layer were shallow with a strong brown (7.SYR 4/6) clay subsoil at less than 20 cm below the surface. Soils were wet than expected and could not be screen. As a result, the upper dark brown soil was only trowel sorted. No artifacts were identified. The archaeological investigation for the proposed Sugar Hill Road improvement and replacement of Bridge No 128 project in McDowell County shows that it is very unlikely for any significant sites to be within the APE. Ground disturbance from development and road construction as well as severe soil erosion has made it very unlikely for intact archaeological deposits to be present. No further archaeological work is required for this project. However, additional work might be required should design plans change to encompass property outside of the currently defined APE. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: � Map(s) ❑ Previous Survey Info Signed: � C. Damon Jones NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST ❑ Photos ❑Correspondence 2/2/ 17 Date "NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT" form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: C0494E9C-6962-4BE2-B698-E2ED76F52047 Project Tirrckino> No.: 17-01-0010 ,�. � - , � � ,:� �,: � ,� e�, :r� - � , ,; � Y : , s, - � ti� ,� , �, , ' ?'sa n' , -. ) i _ ,- ,�l � , �:. a I. � �: I 1 ' , J,-.r � �' �` ,s� {.',' r � ,, - , r ' +� r�krs.hcm.ZL , � - � 3'� ' .. . � E _ _ � .. :. _ ' � � � �h"1 F 1i37"~�;'mt,2 -.a�^ ��; . I . . . . . ] - ' .�'. ! . . �1 -_ !• i. . . � �� B � yli-)o} _ . ai i _ .u� I `F � ,.�.!'a' i . - - � � � r _ ,j _ _ � . 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SITES P2ESENT" fa�rrt %or dhe Anaended Minor Tran.rportation Projecd�� ns Qualified in the 2007 Hngranurtatie Agreemerit. 4 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: C0494E9C-6962-4BE2-B698-E2ED76F52047 Project Tirrckino> No.: 17-01-0010 ` F9eD ��,� " �`� , �'� � , i,� - ,� t'i:1 HcG2 .� _�� a - ^ g � EihiE. I-�e[) ,e.. � _ .., � � ,., ". 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SITES P2ESENT" fa�rrt %or dhe Anaended Minor Tran.rportation Projecd�� ns Qualified in the 2007 Hngranurtatie Agreemerit. 5 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: C0494E9C-6962-4BE2-B698-E2ED76F52047 Pr•oject Trackii�g No.: 17-01-0010 Figure 3. The 1902 USGS Mount Mitchell topographic map showing the location of the project area. r 7 % � �� L � . P ro j e ct A re a'., -,,� � . , . r �` _ � . 1. . i � fi � .- - ` / �i 1 . �. . � � • � r J. `� � � • • � '• ~4� _•��`,/' � 1''�� . J' � ,� • � , � ♦. ' �. \ , •.�� . 0 � . . , ,r • ; �'r � ;, �. 4' * R ti . ' ' �..Md ./ -- .s� Figure 4. Tl�e 1922 Rural Delivery Map for McDotivell County showing the location of the project area. "NO NATIONAL REGI,STER F_L/GBLF 02 LISTED,9RCHAF,OLOGICAL SITES P2E.SENT" fa�rn %or� dhe Anrenc'ied Minor Transportation Pi�ojecls as QualiJied i�i the 2007 ProgrurrtnaaLicAgreeme��t. 6 of 7 DocuSign Envelope ID: C0494E9C-6962-4BE2-B698-E2ED76F52047 Pr•oject Trackii�g No.: 17-01-0010 � �- ` . ��'►� � . \,• ; � . � , i • � � i r" . t •�.1; .�� Pra�ect Area -��°`� �;:: �-. �� ,•� i�. ` - .�;�w. , a � � ' • i � % � � / a ' � � �a, "1 • � Q � i � 7 �. O ♦ � � � ` • � • • �� j � " i► • �. ♦ � � � i � � �'• M ' � �� ♦ • ��. �� +� � , � + �'' �� • f s � � y � •: • ,� # �� ` �._�PRC�V IDErICE �,y ,�- r. � � ��. � ' � � ':+ � Figure 5. Tl�e 1938 North Carolina Stc�te Highway Map fo� McDowell Co�atinty showing the location of the project area. "NO NATIONAL REGI,STER F_L/GBLF 02 LISTED,9RCHAF,OLOGICAL SITES P2E.SENT" fa�rn %or� dhe Anrenc'ied Minor Transportation Pi�ojecls as QualiJied i�i the 2007 ProgrurrtnaaLicAgreeme��t. 7 of 7