20191002 Ver 1_Macon County - B315 - Archaeological Screening_20190724

NO SURVEY REQUIRED FORM
PROJECT INFORMATION
Project No: Str# 550315
WBS No: 1713P.14.R.72
F.A. No: na
Federal (USACE) Permit Required?
Project Description:
Project Tracking No. (Internal Use)
E11-o8-0117
County: Macon
Document: Minimum Criteria Sheet
Funding: ® State ❑ Federal
® Yes ❑ No Permit Type: NWT 3 or 14
The project calls for the replacement of Bridge No. 315 on SR 1618 (Glen Falls Road) over East Fork
Overflow Creek. The archaeological Area of Potential Effects (APE) for the project is defined as a 600-
foot (182.88 m) long corridor running 300 feet (91.44 m) north and 300 feet (91.44 m) south along SR
1618 from the center of Bridge No. 315. The corridor is approximately ISO feet (45.72 m) wide extending
75 feet (22.86 m) east and 75 feet (22.86 m) west from the present center of SR 1618.
SUMMARY OF CULTURAL RESOURCES REVIEW
Brief description of review activities, results of review, and conclusions:
Bridge No. 315 is southwest of Highlands and east of the Little Tennessee River in the southeastern
portion of Macon County, North Carolina. It is plotted in the southwestern section of the Highlands
USGS 7.5' topographic quadrangle (Figure 1).
A map review and site file search was conducted at the Office of State Archaeology (OSA) on September
9, 2011. No previously recorded archaeological sites have been identified within the presently defined
APE or adjacent to the APE, but one site (31MA411) is recorded within a mile radius of the project area.
In addition, no existing National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), State Study Listed (SL), Locally
Designated (LD), Determined Eligible (DE), or Surveyed Site (SS) properties are within or adjacent to the
APE. Topographic maps, USDA soil survey maps, aerial photographs (Google and NCDOT), and
historic maps (North Carolina maps website) were utilized to gage environmental factors that may have
contributed to historic or prehistoric settlement within the project limits, and to assess the level of
modern, residential, hydrological, and other erosive type disturbances within the surrounding
archaeological APE.
Bridge No. 315 crosses East Fork Overflow Creek roughly north to south (Figure 2). The project area is
situated within a drainageway with steep hillside slopes on either side of the stream (Figure 3). The
stream generally runs alongside SR 1618 for a good portion of its length before pulling away to the west.
It drains south into Overflow Creek and is part of the Savanna drainage basin. It appears from the aerial
photographs that the project area is primarily forested with the road cut into the hillside.
A review of the USDA soil survey map indicates that the Cullasaja-Tuckasegee complex (CuD) soil
series covers the entire APE (see Figure 2). This soil series consists of well drained Cullasaja cobbly fine
sandy loam and Tuckasegee fine sandy loam and is typically found in coves, drainageways, and on toe
slopes. This particular soil series has a slope of 15 to 30 percent, which is not likely to yield significant
archaeological sites due to the steep slope.

11-08-0117
The only known archaeological site (31MA411) within a mile of the project area was identified by the
U.S. Forest Service. This site is situated along a toe slope on Chandler gravelly fine sandy loam. It
consists of a small scatter of lithic material from an unidentified time period and has been determined
ineligible for the NRHP. Additional sites over a mile away to south have also been identified on ridge
tops and toe slopes. All these sites have been recommended as ineligible as well. The previously
identified sites in the region suggest that it is unlikely for any significant site to be found due to no
naturally level landforms within the project area.
Early maps prior to the 20`h century show few details concerning the project area. The circa 1910 U.S.
Postal map and the circa 1933 soil map for Macon County identifies a road with a similar alignment as
SR 1618, but it does not appear to cross East Fork Overflow Creek (Figure 4 and 5). Regardless, no
historic structures are shown near the project area on either map. It seems unlikely for archaeological
deposit associated with former structures to be found within the APE.
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 replacement of Bridge No. 315 is located in a
drainageway with steep slopes on either side. It is unlikely intact and significant archaeological deposits
will be present within the current APE. This is based upon slope greater than 15 percent within the
project area combined with the small scope of the proposed bridge replacement at its existing location,
which should only cause minor impacts to undisturbed properties. In addition, the review of historic
maps suggest that no significant former structures were once located near the project. As long as impacts
to the subsurface occur within the defined APE, no further archaeological work is recommended for the
replacement of Bridge No. 315 in Macon County. If construction should affect subsurface areas beyond
the defined APE, further archaeological consultation will be necessary.
SUPPORT DOCUMENTATION
See attached: Map(s), Previous Survey Info, Photos, Correspondence, Photocopy of notes from county
survey.
FINDING BY NCDOT CULTURAL RESOURCES PROFESSIONAL NO SURVEY REQUIRED
ARCHAEOLOGY HISTORIC ARCHITECTURE (CIRCLE ONE)
E�HD
C.17amon Jones'
NCDOT Cultural Resources Specialist
1015111
Date
2

11-08-0117
One Mile Radius (shaded) t. VL)
Around Project Area "�° ti.¢ "ti .� :, •\•
k.
, , \, •�a:. q'�� - y � r ,.,`ti� y 4•.�'�'s'wrt'�H � i':{. �.. fjf�i.. f ,4} r ie. 4 �4.
l
\' rt�� ,✓ r { }- � 1: � 1e1 1 ' i ,l ff . t � � �, \y a' 1 •R •1 f
•,`Yi R '' _ l } „} \ " Jy' JC r i .4 „� „r r � a •,1 \ � "ir..
t •l A'
f ,
4' I .�T4 _i! � � �y� �j'�:t1}I; - •>, • f. j``` j . s 'i f 1 qq ` ,1 ti lair
1� - , i k�•+': 4,-f - - ! I S .Kc�;tad 1�' t:,yil� L r''.
Zy, �y ;
ro 10, rots
linqut
f. ,L_.\\^\ { _(%,li,`�•�— �f _ \ t t. _ till f. _
e.4 ,,a f71 J t✓i!',t r{\-+11L ir;,i.. `y��ry 1 It 1
> ;�° x'}a`�� `� ry %r'` 1'.�Jr•l� .1''Y`��•L��� CfY1'r+
n1 Kn.Db`--f i-..
U5G575 MARe argle Map 0 F i %I
f',ofartds, NC
Miles
0 4,000
IN E
Feet
0 1,000
Macon County
Meters S
Figure 1. Topographic Setting of Project Area, Highlands (1946, photorevised 1980), NC, USGS 7.5'
Topographic Quadrangles.
3

11-08-0117
Figure Z. Aerial photograph showing development and soils within the project area.
4

11-08-0117
5

11-08-0117
HIGHLANDS :
I
Project Area
Figure 4. The circa 1910 U.S. Post Office map for Macon County showing the project area.
��. I l ikhlan,dse.
Project Area A
!snit titRa
t v
Figure 5. The circa 1933 soil survey map of Macon County showing the project area
6