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Home My WebLink About20190260 Ver 1_17-08-0023 No Archaeological Survey Required Form Br No 113 on SR 1514 Holdens Cross Rd over Whiteoak Swamp Wilson_20190227Project Tracking No.: 17-08-0023 oa�"�� NO ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY REQUIRED FORM :� � ,.Q:- c � +�:, t .:�:, .. � a This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not ��. � '�,��;�� : : F.= tl ,� 6�' valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the �� :,.��`�� Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group. �� af . PROJECT INFORMATION Project No WBS No: F.A. No: Br. No. 0113 County: Document Wilson 17BP.4.R.109 N/A Federal Permit Required? I�[K�J Funding: � State ❑ Federal � Yes ❑ No Permit Type: nw3 or nw14 Project Description: NCDOT proposes to replace Bridge No. 0113 on SR 1514 (Holdens Cross Road) over Whiteoak Swamp in Wilson County, east of Wilson. While this is a state funded project, it will require a USACE permit. Therefore, this is a federal undertaking and Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act applies for archaeological review. NCDOT Division staff provided useful information regarding the project, including the general nature and scale of the undertaking. While preliminary design was not available for this review, enough information was provided to establish an archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE). For purposes of this review, the APE is about 500 feet long and 100 feet wide, centered on the bridge. This allows for multiple designs, though a replace-in-place design on the same alignment is expected. An offsite detour is available, so no on-site, temporary bridge impacts are expected. Much of the APE has already been modified by the construction of the existing SR 1514 and bridge. The project area is surrounded Whiteoak Swamp. SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions: USGS mapping (Saratoga) and aerial photography was studied (see Figures 1 and 2). The surrounding topography is relatively level near the bridge though the APE is swampy. The soil present involves two types. The soil surrounding the bridge is Bibb loam (Bb, 0-2 percent slopes, frequently flooded) representing about 60% of the APE. This soil is poorly drained and considered hydric, generally an undesirable location for prolonged human activity. It is notable that swampy water coverage is widespread on both sides of the bridge. The approach from the west crosses Gritney sandy loam (GtB2), a slightly sloped (2-5 percent slope) and moderately eroded soil. While landforms adjacent to water of a certain scale, including swamps, may have been attractive for Native American use, this soil is listed as eroded, likely from modern farming and flood scouring, and less likely to preserve archaeological sites. Any new impacts are expected to be limited, in any case. For this project, the majority of the impacts will be within the low soils less likely to contain archaeological sites, and, due to disturbances from the existing transportation facility and nearby erosion, unlikely to be intact if encountered. Virtual drive-by was available using Google maps. This is a typical, fairly small bridge, currently. Standing or slow moving swamp water was seen in the streetside view on both sides. No obvious cemeteries were observed during the virtual drive by, however, the USGS mapping shows cemeteries in the general vicinity though far outside of the project APE. GIS-based cemetery data maintained by NCDOT archaeologist, Paul J. Mohler, also shows five cemeteries within a 3/4 mile radius and outside of impacts. The Ofiice of State Archaeology was visited in August, 2017 to review archaeological mapping and to reference any known archaeological surveys and sites. This helps establish an archaeological context for "No ARCHAEOLOCY SURVEYREQCIIRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 1 of 4 Project Tracking No.: 17-08-0023 comparison. There are no environmental reviews for archaeology within the APE, nar any archaeological sites. Likewise, in the local vicinity, there are few archaeological surveys or documented sites. However, one notable survey for the proposed Wilson County Landfill was conducted in 1992 resulting in a couple dozen new recorded sites (ER 91-8135, Bibliography # 3092). While archaeological components from most periods were identified, including both Native American and historic sites, most were considered altered through major, sustained plowing and therefore lacked integrity necessary for the National Register of Historic Places. The lack of sites elsewhere is probably more related to a lack of environmental compliance review rather than an absence of activity. Similar patterns of archaeological sites noted at the proposed landfill may be expected in the nearby vicinity, including the broader landforms around the subject project, however, the same issues concerning intact stratigraphy is also likely present. This more likely indicates a lack of archaeological studies in the area rather than an expectation that Native American and historic sites are absent from the local landscape. Archaeological consideration was also given to the replacement of Bridge No. 143 on SR 1506, Web Lake Road, north of the project by one mile and over the same swamp. The project was reviewed by NCDOT archaeologist Shane C. Petersen as PA # 15-10-0029. Similar in scale to the current project, no archaeological survey was recommended based on the small scale of the new impacts and the presence of the same low, wet soils that are unfavorable for habitation. Historic USGS and other mapping was researched and examined. The most notable and useful information was shown on the 1904 USGS (Wilson) which shows a previous crossing at this location on a similar alignment, though the road shifts slightly towards the southeast briefly after the bridge. It is assumed that the current bridge, built in 1940, replaced the older bridge and may have resulted in the small changes to the roadway. For this undertaking, the proposed bridge replacement of the existing transportation facility, Bridge No. 113, the project footprint is expected to be very limited. The majority of the existing APE has been modified for the current roadway and bridge. Water spreads out into the swamp, covering large portions of the immediate landscape. The surrounding soil is mainly poorly drained and frequently flooded ground, generally undesirable for human activity. As the road raises out of the low, wet soils, the construction is expected to be even further restrained, with less impacts on that somewhat attractive, though plowed and eroded landform. The small undertaking size, disturbances and soil types present within the APE suggest low expectations for encountering newly discovered archaeological sites, especially any that may be intact and significant. The project should be considered compliant with Section 106. No archaeological survey is recommended for this undertaking as currently proposed. 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 scale and nature of the project is limited to replacement of an existing bridge with a new structure at the same location. The small footprint of construction through previously disturbed and otherwise poor topographic setting for habitation are all contributing factors in the recommendation for no archaeological survey. This federally permitted undertaking should be considered compliant with Section 106. Should the scale or location of the replacement structure and approach change significantly, please inform the Archaeology Group for further consideration. SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION "No ARCHAEOLOGY SURVEYREQCIIRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 2 of 4 See attached: � Map(s) ❑ Previous Survey Info ❑ Photos ❑Correspondence ❑ Photocopy of County Survey Notes Other: FINDING BY NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST Project Tracking No.: 17-08-0023 0 900 1,800 3,600 Feet � � � � � f ,,` �'/% V , � , .I ,�.r. �m � � — -- ---- � � � - � � - � 970115 ' • t._� � _� - �°� — • '�� - � Gem O , o ; • . �� , � � ` u - `` � u . . . .— ' _ - p i�wca.� . �em . �� a �hapet � n � • � � � _�-. - ]6 I _ � ' ' " e:-�. I � � /• l _ � � -_ ' � ' —�r� _ -- .� c € r � . J� �_ �� \ � i,i � � � /'b r� l � � �f �o.� �u� � ' � �, o �3' 1 � a -_- � � _ ' ' _ �. . � ZE � �a � � � + _I � - - 0 �Y , � B-- - ;:4 �=,��: '... <.� -• � �r, Holden. Ce� . - , 970113 _ �' [.rns::ruads • ' O • � • ' `�'�Cea - Good �cd ' . /,. �'-/� '` . r .. ``.a�' 65 V � + / '1 _ �/ � �- � �,� , yg - ., . ., � . - � .. �: _ .. _O . —� ` ,�a_�� a (� —``— ' , � . ( ° . Copyright:0 2013 National Geographic Society; i-cubed, Esri, HERE, DeLor� e, Mapmylndia, O - � OpenStre�etMap contributors, and the GIS user community Figure 1. Vicinity of PA 17-OS-0023 the proposed Bridge No. 113 replacement along SR 1514 (Holdens Cross Road) over Whiteoak Swamp in Wilson County, shown on an excerpt of USGS mapping (Saratoga). The APE is circled and shown in yellow. "No ARCHAEOLOGYSURVEYREQUTRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatic Agreement. 3 of 4 Project Tracking No.: 17-08-0023 ,_ _.. r , -- - �. •,� � r.., � � . r.. r ��'` �� 7� � .l�� 5��r ,!,' �Y. � ,�, � A1 �;� 'f fx , �F � �' �� 'w. �- "�� * r ,�� . • t'3- �� `• _ . _ y . �. � • ' ••'�-'` 1 , � _ � � y1 �•y f '� , � � , . R � ,� w .li . r � _ , � / 1 � / `- , .. f-. . ", ; �, .cr,^.�°� � ' � 1' " � �,+'� � g '`, �• � ' ^ •� �,� •` 1 ! � � f � +, 9� '� 4, x� � M�� Y� 1� fM .Rif i .W �! t �� ` �r . "� � �. � rk , v� `�-- _ . '3;,,� ' ��t 1 I , �_� - " r' T. e" �'`� '� � � �` � . , "� � y, � 1� � � •. '.+. . ' � s� �' ' � , k - 4', � r ` � `� * -s 970113 `��"' 4+1,;� � i �r1. _'.. ...,1. ��i � . ^ i. �. �.! _ �r- � _. , � - � • � .. �++� . * � � }++`_� �,' ` , � • ` ' :,', — r - a �� }- . , �. # �;{ .a � �� , � e , ' �� _ � �� _ ��^ �' ' f a # =� _ y �. ��I r d . .� '. � � 4r�.� � ' r ��. , ;: #�� Srr L �' }��+,� � � - �R � �� 0 50 100 • ^ 200 Feet � � �..5' ,� .. Sourc .- � g tal lob E�ar tar �� ap ESVAirbus DS. USDA. USGS, AEX��. . Gst � p ro� id I to o, d � C munlry - Figure 2. Aerial map of PA 17-08-0023, Br. No. 0113 replacement on SR 1514 (Holdens Cross Road). The APE is shown in yellow. The National Wetland Inventory is shaded showing poorly drained soils along the APE, much of it as standing water. "No ARCHAEOLOGYSURVEYREQUTRED "form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2015 Programmatre Agreement. 4of4