20190623 Ver 1_17-B-4819 TIP B-4819 No NRHP archaeological sites present Bridge No 105 on SR 1697 Stokes County_20190510

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
NO NATIONAL REGISTER OF HISTORIC PLACES
o� ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES
P a PRESENT FORM +
0
+. q This form only pertains to ARCHAEOLOGICAL RESOURCES for this project. It is not`.
Via•.. _.y yP P J.
valid for Historic Architecture and Landscapes. You must consult separately with the
Historic Architecture and Landscapes Group.
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No: B-4819
WBS No: 38589.1.1
F.A. No: BRZ-1697(3)
Federal Permit Required?
Project Description:
County: STOKES
Document: LIBR/PCE/MCC
Funding: ❑ State ® Federal
® Yes ❑ No Permit Type: Nw 3 OR Nw 4
NCDOT proposes to replace Bridge No. 0105 over Snow Creek on SR 1697 (Pitzer Road) on new
alignment in Stokes County (see Figures 1 and 2). According to NCDOT's bridge inventory, Bridge No.
105 was built in 1963. This is a federally funded project with USACE permitting required, therefor it is
a federal undertaking and subject to Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act.
Preliminary designs were available for the review of the project though are subject to change. The current
alternative under consideration involves replacing the bridge on approximately the same location with
realignment of the structure and SR 1697 on the west half of the project, easing a curve on the bridge
approach (see Figure 3). An offsite detour is proposed, therefore no temporary detour structure is
required.
Note that much of the floodplain south of SR 1697 was purchased by NCDOT as a mitigation site (Clark
Site TIP # B-3045WM). The area was planted with local sapling trees which have since grown larger.
The mitigation planting may have involved holes that exceeded the existing plowzone, though the planted
area seems to affect only the southernmost reaches of the APE.
The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the undertaking involves all existing and proposed
ROW and easements associated with construction of the project. The current assumption involves about
1025 feet of length by 100-150 feet in width. The additional width is included to account for pavement
removal on the existing SR 1697 curve and the south -shifted new roadway. Construction of a driveway
to the floodplain is also proposed from SR 1697 east of Snow Creek to allow continued public river
access.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
1of15

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
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.
SUMMARY OF ARCHAEOLOGICAL FINDINGS
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
A previously recorded archaeological site, 31 Sk7, is documented with the Office of State Archaeology
along the Dan River floodplain landform west of Snow Creek. Because the site was not formally evaluated
and was mapped in a broad, general manner, the NC Historic Preservation Office recommended an
archaeological survey of the proposed bridge project in a letter dated January 26, 2009. An intensive
archaeological survey was conducted of the APE on January 18, 2017 by NCDOT archaeologists Brian
Overton and Damon Jones. The archaeologists visually inspected the bridge, the floodplain, Snow Creek,
roadway approaches and abandoned routes for any suggestion of above ground historic features such as
building foundations, wells, cemeteries, previous crossings and roads, or surface artifacts. Further, seven
shovel test pits were excavated and screened to examine subsurface conditions and remains. Two artifacts,
both lithic debitage, were recovered, one each from two shovel test pits. Below is a summary that combines
results of the field investigation and background research, beginning with above ground observations as it
corresponds to historic mapping.
A notable feature within the APE is the concrete supporting wall on the east bank of Snow Creek that may
have previously launched a bridge or otherwise shores the landform (see Figure 4). Further, the topography
south of Pitzer Road on the west side of the creek was noted as being cleared, an area corresponding to an
unusually divided property line, powerline easement, and wooded ditch which may represent some earlier
configuration of the roadway and crossing (see Figure 5). The ditch is just wide enough to be associated
with a roadbed, but a natural or artificial drainage is also possible. Its nature is not clearly understood.
Additionally, an abandoned metal truss bridge, a "camelback" design, crossing the Dan River just west of
the Snow Creek confluence was examined though it is outside of the archaeological APE some 300 feet
(see Figure 6). Some remnants of the previous approach to that historic bridge were observed, included an
earthen, elevated approach, earthen berms and push piles provide above ground evidence the roadway's
disuse and eventual removal (see Figure 7). The NC Historic Preservation Office lists the bridge as SK0687
(Dan River Bridge), suggesting that is was erected between 1915-1935. Historic mapping, discussed more
below, also supports this timeframe.
Several historic maps of Stokes County were examined in preparation for an archaeological background
and fieldwork. The 1934 Stokes County Soils Map (MC.090.1934u, see Figure 8) shows a crossing of the
Dan River which uses the camel back bridge and the older roadway configuration. The Stokes County
Highway Map (see Figure 9) and Postal Delivery Map (see Figure 10), from 1938 and 1943 respectively,
show this same, earlier road alignment (MC.090.1938n and Cm912.85). The crossing of Snow Creek
appears in approximately the same location, however, what would become Pitzer Road may have followed
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
2of15

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
the banks of the Dan River at that time, though the scale of the mapping does not offer enough detail to
determine this for certain (see Figures 8, 9 and 10).
By 1953, the new Dodgetown Road and bridge were constructed over the Dan River east of the project area
(see Figure 11) according the County Highway mapping (MC.090.1953n). On that mid-century mapping,
the older crossing with the camelback bridge is no longer depicted, instead being replaced with the new
Dodgetown Road. After this point, it is assumed that the old bridge was in disrepair and disuse, and that
the roadway and bridge approach was altered so as to be impassable to vehicles. A shift of the western part
of Pitzer Road may have occurred around this time to not follow alongside the river, but instead the hillside
on the north of the floodplain.
An examination of the USGS mapping provides some insight, too, for road modifications in the later part
of the twentieth century. The Danbury quadrangle shows all of the surrounding roads in approximately the
same configuration in the 1971 and the 1984 versions. By 1996, however, the Danbury quadrangle shows
that the intersection of SR 1697 (Pitzer Rd.) and SR 1696 (Duggins Rd.), which is immediately east beside
the bridge, changed. The old roadway intersection near the bridge was demolished and moved a short
distance eastward. Other changes occurred at the same time along SR 1696, outside of the APE, according
to the 1996 quadrangle.
Several contact sheets of historic aerial photography from the NCDOT Photogrammetry Unit were
identified that include the project vicinity and APE from the 1970s and later (ex. M1274_7925_t), though
nothing of interest was observed.
The current Bridge No. 105 to be replaced was inspected and photographed. According to the NCDOT
bridge inventory data, this bridge was constructed in 1963. Indications of an earlier crossing of SR 1697
over Snow Creek were observed in the field in the form of a concrete wall or bridge launch on the creek's
eastern bank, immediately north of the current bridge (see Figure 4). Based on the angle, one can assume
at least one different alignment was present prior to the 1960s.
In summary of the roadway and crossing history in the general project area and APE, overland routes and
bridges over the river and creek were altered over time. Some transportation features were abandoned or
removed while others were realigned. Changes to old roadways and the addition of new travelways and
bridges often disturb the soils immediately within and around those affected areas. This usually, but not
always affects the archaeological context, either by diminishing or destroying the existing, intact soils and
deposits. There are cases, however, where roads are built overtop of archaeological site, or have fill
associated with them, that do the opposite and instead protect portions of sites from destructive plowing or
development. Here, though, is assumed that the transportation modifications damaged archaeological
integrity very close to those roads and bridges.
Previous archaeological research in the area was considered prior to fieldwork and is summarized here.
Regional archaeological surveys suggests that certain floodplains adjacent to the Dan River hold potential
for Native American archaeological sites, especially from the woodland period. Many of those locations
are at confluences with tributaries. This is the topographic setting for this project on the west of the Creek,
while the east side lacks a broad floodplain and has hilly terrain close to the road, creek and river. It is on
the western floodplain near this bridge project where archaeological site 31Sk7 was recorded by Richard
Gravely, Jr., of the Virginia Archaeological Society in 1967 (the 1976 site form also refers to the site as
Pitzer #1 from UNC-CH records). Detailed information and analysis is lacking, though there are reports
by an amateur of pottery, soapstone bowl fragments, burned bone fragments, and chipped stone projectile
points and fragments that were noted as the Pee Dee Triangular type, and others. For this reason, the NC
HPO recommended an archaeological survey. NCDOT staff archaeologists agree, acknowledging both the
setting and presence of a known archaeological site, and conducted the research and field investigation.
Other environmental reviews for archaeology have occurred in the general project area. In particular, the
proposed replacement of the nearby Dan River bridge on SR 1695 (Dodgetown Road) was reviewed by
NCDOT archaeologists and resulted in a survey (PA # 14-11-0003, Bridge No. 104). The scale of the
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
3of15

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
project was somewhat larger than the current Bridge No. 105 replacement, though a broad floodplain or
known site was lacking. In addition to a visual inspection, four shovel test pits were excavated to examine
soil stratigraphy and identify any archaeological horizons, features or artifacts that might be present. No
archaeological sites were found as part of that separate effort.
For the investigation of the current project APE, NCDOT staff identified two quadrants that merited
subsurface testing. This was based on the proposed design which includes a possible shift of SR 1697
southward on the west side of Snow Creek. The existing roadway would be removed while new impacts
would occur to the south of the APE, possibly where a previous road was routed. The southeastern quadrant
has a narrow, partially level portion of terrain that would be modified by a proposed access road to a boat
launch. A total of seven (7) subsurface shovel test pits were excavated, four west of the creek and three
near the boat access area (see Figure 2 for shovel test pit locations). Shovel test pits were spaced
approximately 30 meters apart, screened using 1/4-inch hardware cloth mesh and mapped using submeter
GPS data collectors. While some artifacts were recovered from two of the seven shovel test pits, they only
yielded two (2) artifacts, both debitage (STP # 1 - chert shatter, and STP # 4 - jasper/chalcedony interior
flake). Both artifacts are believed to be from a previous plowzone in the upper stratigraphy of the shovel
test pits, a disturbed context. No other archaeological remains were identified, including horizons or
features on either side of the creek within the APE.
The two artifacts are likely associated with the margins of site 31 Sk7. The artifacts identified were not
diagnostic, represent a low density of cultural materials, and were located in a disturbed, plowed soil. The
remains reported about 31 Sk7 noted concentrated areas of higher density quantities of artifacts, including
possible pit features. While UNC-CH records and mapping were not examined, it is assumed that these
concentrations of possibly intact materials are not present within the APE. The two artifacts within the
Area of Potential Effects are not considered eligible for The National Register of Historic Places as it does
not represent an archaeological component that is intact and able to convey significance. Therefore, for
purposes of Section 106, a finding of No National Register of Historic Places Eligible or Listed
Archaeological Sites Present or Affected is appropriate
No further archaeological effort is recommended for this project as it is currently proposed. If alternatives
are developed at a later date that were not considered during this evaluation, please offer an opportunity for
our comments. Should any cultural features or artifacts be discovered during the construction, please
inform our office for additional consultation.
See attached: ® Map(s) ❑ Previous Survey Info
Signed:
NCDOT ARCHAEOLOGIST
® Photos ❑Correspondence
5/08/2017
Date
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
4of15

C
a
Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
!� 0 1,000 2,000
r.
4,000
Feet
Figure 1. Excerpt of USGS mapping (Danbury) showing the general project vicinity and APE highlighted in yellow. Bridge
No. 105 on SR 1697 crosses Snow Creek about 300 feet from the Dan River.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
5of15

st i Positive Prehistoric
st 2 Negative
r ;+.taa '✓ ; ;y;!. 1 fj.-: st 3 Negative
itA�i
pATS �RtVE'�
pA,tt,RtVt=R
st 4 Positive Prehistoric
st 5 Negative �' glb
r� fin, � ' {.•.. •/ � jjj y" -- - Q=�7
st 6 Negative �
st 7 Negative
IV 1 ' ♦ �/ �
Sri. l •.J YY t •� ' f .- e;
� _ f�^ �ST�C;�F6fi�L�.�st-r ll'i�i'fB�J ATI•�al�i+zi��"'., o�ti 1�.t�`.G�t°

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
xa 4
IVILMPLen A=9
1'1LBlli I�S3� R PLANS
T
�� waw�+r ror ow��a nru�.
NeY�NLL �WNRrtNi1 C411r4lrG
m �
BEGIN TIP PROJECT B-4814
-L- STA 10+25.00
* � .PROJCCE 8-d8t9
p q .y Mo f 11 J�
5 05iiii',.aw
DGE I - Y r STA 17 • 71.31 �+- Pc s+aA72+S
4-
- �.F�PDT 0487M
Pr 5a m_ ,W.rs r
ru y°T�1�'a+sn
a,�.rc
`raga q"` - _-- -- B
BEGIN BRIDGE' --t-PM S,v
- r STA 15+41. 3 ,yis.°•'� - '�•E _ w
-I -
w+rs arv[r illW, Mssxxnw ►c
-dA�i'E- Pd'�SF�c 8+63 u vv't +q
f ctilvsrlLL'�i[1r -MVE- Pr 9all-W.44
ar s e9e5,al
Figure 3. Preliminary design of the bridge replacement for Bridge No. 105. The existing curved pavement of SR 1697 would be removed and the
new roadway would shift south. This area received more attention during the survey because it falls within the previously mapped 31 SK07 site
boundaries and will have new, or new again, impacts. The other location for shovel testing included the proposed improved access road for a canoe
and boat launch. This design may change, however, it is representative of the nature, placement and scale of the undertaking.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
7of15

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
Figure 4. Photograph of below the bridge facing the east bank of Snow Creek. Notice the cement support for launching an earlier bridge constructed
over the rocky bank. Historic mapping shows the roadway may have crossed hear at a significantly different angle.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
8of15

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
Figure 5. Photography of Bridge No. 105 along Pitzer Road (SR 1697) facing east. This view shows the broad, cleared area south of the existing
roadway. Utility poles are present, as is a drainage feature along within the woods and a property line. This may represent a previous alignment for
Pitzer Road and is considered disturbed.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
9of15

' \', r ` f � ' � � { j � �a . i'* �� Ij� ,� : �'`fw: �1 • Ir � ��' . � •�c.., „>t,� ' �w '� ' - � � "
� i �' f '� �Y •�,t,}f �'�i- r. 1. ��� qs- ��• j�lll.�N� � - ,L �'��Y �\.� � �` �,. r
�4J i�Mi��. �a� ?;.^ ' ',:� /. ''�� j P/jj;�� �•�ir +"� "� 'n- , �i y�'fr
1
e
Re'li'm , TI
NN
Al
pp
�� `N�y..:,� �,• �"' !'. 'y,�'•; �f. �`` ,�7A -.sow
qe-
14
�-
* +� - • � i .tayl ; / �+ i � - l •/r'`. _ ' '4 q t � (.! � :+ � : L' A /-v kw � ✓ R�� +T
� ; t •i ' -� • 'I r � {y rj d ',f �r r�� �� v r;,} _'� +{,,���"� K, � arv� a • _ .�`f-T.r��,.�`'{'ry'1�+� r7
06lw
" - p

4-AW.
�i �. '��_i. r= �., !t• t* + �_: � +�e.� � _� r �, � 1. � t. �'-. s j. Id � � ,` - �
,* ice«-• -+►�►�*' •_ - -. �
Vo
�' •.. �� � ` _� � . !I. / !. t �= vim. .;a'_{� c..��}".�`"�.7y� - - � 1�r 'y t rM '� � { ..
�-:�

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
♦ ` 1 t ♦
,, ' \\ f' �';,"
�/
i �a ♦ �� � `' ,
om' � G t' []Yet'
V\AStc
v l A
Opel rf
©R
♦
�
j 4C • A
rt �
+ \� WIf S
r,� viti
Cf
r
♦s\ r
\
Cc
Co
IE
Figure 8. Excerpt of the Stokes County Soil Map, North Carolina from the 1930s (MC.090.1934u). The Dan River runs west to east across the map,
passes near the project area just southwest of Davis Chapel. At that time, the camelback bridge over the Dan River was in use along with a different
north -south route. Pitzer Road (SR1697) appears mapped closer to the Dan River rather than closer to the hillside where it is currently located.
Dodgetown Road (SR 1695) had not been constructed. Note, a structure is mapped some distance northwest of where Bridge No. 105 would be
located, likely on the far side of the floodplain north of Pitzer Road.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
12 of 15

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
DANBURY
OR 300 EST.
+f
Figure 9. Excerpt of the Stokes County State Highway Map from 1938 (MC.090.1938n). As with the soils mapping, Dodgetown Road (SR1695) does
not yet exist. Instead the camelback bridge over the Dan River serves as the main north -south crossing. What would be the equivalent of Pitzer Road
as it is known today is depicted closer to the river, lacking the curve near the sloped terrain on the north that is obvious is later mapping. The crossing
over Snow Creek appears at a different angle that the current roadway, though this observation may result from poor mapping detail. A structure does
appear in close proximity to the project, northwest of Bridge No. 105 to be replaced, though no remains were encountered during this investigation and
is probably outside of the APE.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor- Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
13 of 15

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
1L_
,l �+Aik�rr�ra
f \
DAN6URYA
j �. •1141 6 /k I t 41.
7
Figure 10. This excerpt of the Stokes County Rural Delivery Routes circa 1943 (Cm912.85 1943u) shows the bridge crossing over Snow Creek, the
camelback bridge in use over the Dan River, and Pitzer Road (SR 1697) is mapped closer to the river. As seen in previous historic maps though
perhaps with shown in greater detail and with intention, the bridge over Snow Creek appears to be drawn angled from southwest to northeast, rather
than the current northwest to southeast roadway configuration that is present today. These multiple roadways that have been replaced or modified over
the years near the same crossing tend to have negative effects on the soil stratigraphy and archaeological integrity for any sites that might be present.
NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
14 of 15

Project Tracking No.:
B-4819
Figure 11. Excerpt of the Stokes County Highway Map from the early 1950s (MC.090.1953n) showing the new Dodgetown Road (SR 1695) over the
Dan River which replaced the now absent camelback bridge crossing near the Snow Creek confluence.
"NO NATIONAL REGISTER ELIGIBLE OR LISTED ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITES PRESENT"
form for the Amended Minor- Transportation Projects as Qualified in the 2007 Programmatic Agreement.
15 of 15