The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink About20181318 Ver 1_W-5601R Gaston No NRHP Archaeological Sites Present Form_9/28/2018 2:12 PM Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 16 15-09-0002 NO NATIONAL REGISTE R O F HISTORIC PLACES ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT FORM This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately wi th the Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group. PROJECT INFORMATION Project No: W-5601R County: Gaston WBS No: 50138.1.FR19 Document: CE F.A. No: HSIP-0274(8) Funding: State Federal Federal Permit Required? Yes No Permit Type: NWP #3 Project Description: The NCDOT proposes to realign sections of NC 274 (Tryon Courthouse Road) between SR 1405 (Ramseur Road) and SR 1443 (Dameron Road/Biggerstaff Road) near Bessemer City in order to straighten curves along the road, thereby potentially reducing the number of accidents that have occurred to date. According to the Request for Cultural Resources Review form, the proposed project length is 0.966 miles (5100 feet). The proposed width for the new location corridor is about 100 feet. Thus, for purposes of the archaeological review, the proposed area of potential effects (APE) encompasses an area of nearly 490,180 square feet or about 11.25 acres, inclusive of the existing roadway. 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. RECOMMENDATION: New South Associates, Inc., conducted an archaeological survey and evaluation of the proposed road realignment in Gaston County on November 23, 2015. During the course of the survey, one site and one isolated find were located within the project APE. Site 31GS375** is comprised of two buildings and a push pile of architectural debris that appear to have served an industrial purpose in the early- to mid- twentieth century. No artifacts were recovered from the site. Isolated find 31GS374** was a shovel test that contained one glazed ceramic and a piece of clear bottle glass. The site and isolated find are Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 16 15-09-0002 recommended as not eligible to the NRHP under any of the four criteria. No further archaeological investigations are needed for this project. I concur with this recommendation, as the road realignment project will not impact significant archaeological resources. If the project expands and impacts subsurface areas beyond the defined APE, further archaeological consultations will be necessary. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION See attached: Map(s) Previous Survey Info Photos Correspondence Signed: December 17, 2015 NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Date Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: The project’s APE for the road realignment of NC 274 (Tryon Courthouse Road) between SR 1405 (Ramseur Road) and SR 1443 (Dameron Road/Biggerstaff Road) in Gaston County was subjected to an intensive archaeological survey (Figure 1). In November 2015, New South Associates, Inc., completed shovel testing at 30-meter intervals to survey for potential archaeological resources within the project APE. The purpose of the fieldwork was to investigate the possibility of unknown archaeological resources that might be impacted by the proposed undertaking. The APE for this study measured approximately 5,100 feet (nearly 1554.48 m) long by 100 feet (roughly 30.48 m) wide and 490,180 square feet (11.25 ac.) in size. The APE is characterized by gently to moderately sloping fields and pasture areas, with some intermittent forested areas. Figures 2(a) and 2(b) show the general landscape within the project area. An examination of the USDA soil survey map showed that the APE consisted of three different soil types. The stream bench and terrace in the central portion of the APE consists of Chewacla (ChA) loam, a somewhat poorly drained soil type that is found in areas with slopes ranging from 0-2 percent, and Lloyd loam (LcE) found in areas of 15 to 25 percent slopes. The eastern portion of the APE is comprised of Lloyd sandy clay loam (LdB2), a moderately eroded soil found in areas of 2 to 8 percent slope (USDA Soil Survey 2015). The examination of National Register of Historic Places-listed (NRHP-listed), State Study Listed (SL), Locally Designated (LD), Determined Eligible (DE), and Surveyed Site (SS) properties employing resources available on the North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office (NCSHPO) website determined that no historic structural resources with potential archaeological deposits were situated within the boundaries of the APE. Additionally, historic maps of Gaston County were reviewed for former structure locations, land use patterns, or other confirmation of historic occupation within the NC 274 vicinity. Eight archaeological sites have been documented within one-half (1/2) mile of this proposed project. No structures or historic features were found to be in the APE. Archaeological and historical reference materials were inspected as well. Overall, the historical review established that no NRHP-listed properties, archaeological sites, or cemeteries were contained in the APE. On November 23, 2015, New South Associates conducted an archaeological survey and evaluation of the proposed realignment of NC 274 between SR 1405 and SR 1443 in Gaston County. The intensive Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 16 15-09-0002 archaeological survey consisted of 50 shovel tests placed at 30-meter intervals (100 ft.) along one transect, that ran along either side of the existing road working north to south from the bridge within the APE (Figure 3, Table 1). The transect shifted from one side of the road to the other based on either the APE or the likelihood of finding sites based on undisturbed areas. Shovel tests 1-19 and 1-45 were not excavated due to modern obstacles such as transmission lines and residential structures (Figure 4). All shovel tests measured at least 30 centimeters (12 in.) in diameter and were excavated to at least 10 centimeters (4 in.) into sterile subsoil. All excavated soils and sediments were screened through mesh screen (0.64-cm, 0.25-in.) and all shovel tests were backfilled. A visual inspection of the surface was also done in conjunction with subsurface testing. The typical soil profile observed within the APE consisted of 0-10 centimeters of dark yellowish brown (10YR 3/4) loam (Stratum I) over yellowish red (5YR 4/6) loamy clay with gravel (Stratum II) (Figure 5). Table 1. Summary of Shovel Tests Shovel Test Pit L ev el Depth (top) Depth (base) Munsell Color Soil Texture Artifacts Notes 1-1 I 0 20 - - Hydric No - 1-2 I 0 20 - - Hydric No Offset Due to Briar and Side of Road 1-3 I II 0 15 15 15+ 10YR 4/3 7.5YR 5/6 Brown Strong Brown Loam Loamy Clay No No - - 1-4 I II 0 20 20 30 - 5YR 4/4 - Red Brown Hydric Silty Clay No No - 1-5 I II 0 20 20 20+ 10YR 4/3 - Mottled Gray Brown/Strong Brown - Loamy Clay Water No No - - 1-6 I 0 15 - - Disturbed Soil No Disturbed, Possibly Due to Road Construction; Bottle Glass in STP 1-7 I II 0 30 30 30+ 10YR 3/4 10YR 5/8 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Brown Sandy Loam Loamy Clay with Gravel Yes No 1 Glass and 1 Ceramic at 0- 15 cmbs 515N/500E I II 0 20 20 50 10YR 5/2 - Gray Brown - Silty Clay Loam Hydric No No- 500N/485E I 0 15 - - Water No Waterlogged 500N/515E - - - - - - - Not Dug Due to Steep Road Slope 500N/530E - - - - - - - Not Dug Due to Steep Road Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 4 of 16 15-09-0002 Slope 485N/500 E I II 0 30 30 30+ 10YR 3/4 10YR 5/8 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Brown Sandy Loam Loamy Clay with Gravel No No Some Brown Glass Found, Not Collected 1-8 I II 0 40 40 50 10YR 4/2 5YR 4/4 Dark Gray/Brown Red Brown Silty Loam Loamy Clay No No - 1-9 I II 0 35 35 35+ 10YR 3/4 - Dark Yellow Brown - Sandy Loam Hydric No No - - 1-10 I 0 20 10YR 3/3 Dark Brown Silty Loam No - II 20 30 5YR 4/4 Red Brown Silty Clay No - 1-11 I II 0 50 50 50+ 10YR 3/4 - Dark Yellow Brown - Sandy Loam Hydric No No - - 1-12 I II 0 40 40 50 10YR 6/4 10YR 5/8 Light Yellow Brown Yellow Brown Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-13 I II III 0 15 50 15 50 60 10YR 3/3 10YR 5/8 - Dark Brown Yellow Brown - Loam Sandy Clay Hydric/ Waterlogged No No No Some Coal Found, Not Collected 1-14 I 0 45 - - Silty Loam (Waterlogged) No Waterlogged at Base Depth 1-15 I II 0 25 25 25+ 10YR 5/8 - Yellow Brown - Sandy Loam Hydric Sand No No - - 1-16 I II 0 15 15 15+ 10YR 5/8 7.5YR 5/6 Yellow Brown Strong Brown Sandy Loam Sandy Clay No No - - 1-17 I II 0 35 35 45 10YR 5/2 10YR 7/2 Gray Brown Yellow Gray Silty Loam Silty Clay No No 1-18 I 0 10 7.5YR 5/6 Strong Brown Sandy Clay No - 1-19 - - - - - - - Not Dug Due to Ditch, Road, or Yard 1-20 I II 0 25 25 25+ 10YR 5/8 7.5YR 5/6 Yellow Brown Strong Brown Loam Sandy Clay No No Switched to East Side of Road Because West Side was Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 5 of 16 15-09-0002 Disturbed from Development 1-21 I II 0 30 30 40 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/4 Red Brown Red Brown Silty Clay Loam Loamy Clay No No 1-22 I II 0 40 40 40+ 10YR 3/4 - Dark Yellow Brown - Loam Large Rock No No - 1-23 I II 0 10 10 20 10YR 3/3 5YR 4/4 Dark Brown Red Brown Silty Clay Loamy Clay No No Very Rocky; Next to Old Driveway in Abandoned Lot 1-24 I II 0 10 10 20 10YR 3/3 5YR 4/4 Dark Brown Red Brown Silty Loam Silty Clay 1-25 I II 0 25 25 25+ 10YR 5/8 7.5YR 5/6 Yellow Brown Strong Brown Loam Loamy Clay No No - 1-26 I II 0 15 15 25 10YR 5/2 5YR 4/4 Gray Brown Red Brown Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-27 I II 0 40 40 40+ 10YR 3/4 10YR 5/8 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Brown Sandy Loam Loamy Clay No No - 1-28 I II 0 30 30 40 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Yellow Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-29 I II 0 25 25 35 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Yellow Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-30 I II 0 20 20 20+ 5YR 4/6 5YR 4/6 Red Red Loam Loamy Clay No No - Judgemental- 1 I II 0 30 30 40 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No 1-31 I II 0 10 10 20 10YR 3/4 5YR 4/6 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Red Loam Loamy Clay No No - 1-32 I II 0 30 30 40 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-33 I 0 15 10YR 3/4 Dark Yellow Brown Loam No - Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 6 of 16 15-09-0002 II 15 15+ 5YR 4/6 Yellow Red Loamy Clay No 1-34 I II 0 30 30 40 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-35 I II 0 20 20 20+ 10YR 3/4 5YR 4/6 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Red Loam Loamy Clay No No Large Rocks 1-36 I II 0 20 20 30 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Silty Loam Silty Loam No No - 1-37 I II 0 15 15 15+ 10YR 3/4 5YR 4/6 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Red Loam Loamy Clay No No Large Rocks 1-38 I II 0 30 30 40 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-39 I II 0 15 15 15+ 10YR 3/4 5YR 4/6 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Red Loam Loamy Clay No No Large Rocks 1-40 I II 0 30 30 40 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-41 I II 0 15 15 15+ 10YR 3/4 5YR 4/6 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Red Loam Loamy Clay No No Large Rocks; Placed on East Side of Road because of Disturbed Push Up from Road 1-42 I II 0 15 15 20 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-43 I II 0 5 5 5+ 7.5YR 4/4 - Brown - Loam Bedrock No No Bedrock at 5 cmbs 1-44 I 0 5 - - Rock No Rock Impasse at 5 cmbs; STP in Transmission Line Corridor 1-45 - - - - - - - Not Dug because Area was Disturbed by the Push Up from the Road and Transmission Line 1-46 I 0 25 10YR 3/4 Dark Yellow Loam No - Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 7 of 16 15-09-0002 II 25 25+ 10YR 5/8 Brown Yellow Brown Loamy Clay No 1-47 I II 0 20 20 30 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Mottled w/Eroded Bedrock Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - 1-48 I II 0 15 15 15+ 10YR 3/4 5YR 4/6 Dark Yellow Brown Yellow Red Loam Loamy Clay No No - 1-49 I II 0 30 30 40 5YR 4/4 5YR 4/6 Red Brown Red Silty Loam Silty Clay No No - Archaeological investigation of the APE included both pedestrian walkover and systematic shovel testing. Surface visibility in the majority of the APE was approximately 90 percent. Isolated find 31GS374** was identified at Shovel Test 1-7 (Figures 6 and 7). It was comprised of one glazed ceramic and one piece of clear container glass from 0 to 15 centimeters below ground surface. Radials were placed in either direction off the positive shovel test except to the east due to the road and excessive slope on the other side of the road. Only one shovel test was placed to the west, just outside the APE boundary. No other artifacts were recovered. This resource has no potential to yield significant information because it is an isolated find. Therefore, it is recommended not eligible for the NRHP and no further work is recommended. Site 31GS375** consists of two buildings and one push pile of debris that likely date from the early- to mid-twentieth century (Figure 8). Structure 1 has a cement and brick chimney placed in the middle of the structure, which is also made of cement and cinderblocks (Figure 9). The structure measures approximately 20 meters by 12 meters and has multiple windows, some still containing part of the wooden frame, on all sides except the south. The southern end of the building contains an opening that must have had large doors opening into the building. Structure 2 is a small cinderblock building located just southwest of Structure 1, and is only partially within the APE (Figure 10). It measures approximately 7 meters long by 3 meters wide, and contains a large opening on the east side where the door(s) must have stood. This structure also contains a few openings where windows once existed. Structure 2 was likely a small storage building associated with the larger industrial building to its northeast. Both buildings contained modern trash fill. The debris pile is located approximately 35 meters north of the structures inside a pasture (Figure 11). The debris pile contains large cement slabs and machine-made brick, as well as tires. Due to its proximity to the two structures and contents, it is most likely associated with the historic industrial buildings to its south. No subsurface finds were recovered in the shovel tests located near the structures and push pile. Site 31GS375** contains the ruins of two buildings and an associated debris pile. All of the shovel tests were negative and no artifacts were recovered. The 1938 highway map of Gaston County published by the North Carolina State Highway and Public Works Commission shows one building in the general vicinity, but it is not clear if it is associated with the site. The 1908 Gaston County soils map and 1931 Gaston County maps are more difficult to interpret because NC 274 was not present. However, there are very few buildings shown in the general vicinity on either map. Information from the construction materials and methods, as well as available historic maps, suggests this site dates to the mid-twentieth Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 8 of 16 15-09-0002 century or later. Given the size of Structure 1 and the associated Structure 2, the site may have served some type of industrial or commercial purpose. It has little to no potential to yield important information and is recommended not eligible for the NRHP under any of the four criteria. No further work is recommended at this time for the current undertaking. No further archaeological investigations are recommended for the proposed realignment of NC 274 (Tryon Courthouse Road) between SR 1405 (Ramseur Road) and SR 1443 (Dameron Road/Biggerstaff Road) in Gaston County. The proposed improvements will not impact any significant archaeological resources. Lauren Souther Archaeologist New South Associates, Inc. Figure 1. Topographic Map Showing the Location of the Project APE Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 9 of 16 15-09-0002 Figure 2a. View of APE Facing Southeast From STP 30. Figure 2b. View of APE Facing South From STP 7. Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 10 of 16 15-09-0002 Figure 3. Aerial View of the Project Area Showing Shovel Test Results Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 11 of 16 15-09-0002 Figure 4. Modern Obstacles Preventing Survey Figure 5. Shovel Test Pit 7 Profile Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 12 of 16 15-09-0002 Figure 6. Slope of Road Preventing Survey Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 13 of 16 15-09-0002 Figure 7. Map of Isolated Find 31GS374** Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 14 of 16 15-09-0002 Figure 8. Map of site 31GS375** Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 15 of 16 15-09-0002 Figure 9. FS2 Structure 1 Figure 10. FS2 Structure 2 Project Tracking No.: “NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT” form for Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement. 16 of 16 15-09-0002 Figure 11. FS2 Debris Pile