Phase I Archaeological Survey Along KY 55 in Perry County, Kentucky
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Contract Publication Series 17-178 AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE NEW EXIT 55 AND ASSOCIATED INTERCHANGE ON HAL ROGERS PARKWAY IN PERRY COUNTY, KENTUCKY (ITEM NO. 10-8903.00) by Brian G. DelCastello Prepared for Prepared by Kentucky West Virginia Ohio Indiana Louisiana Tennessee Virginia Contract Publication Series 17-178 AN ARCHAEOLOGICAL SURVEY FOR THE NEW EXIT 55 AND ASSOCIATED INTERCHANGE ON HAL ROGERS PARKWAY IN PERRY COUNTY, KENTUCKY (ITEM NO. 10-8903.00) by Brian G. DelCastello, RPA With contributions by Heather D. Barras Prepared for David Waldner Division of Environmental Analysis Kentucky Transportation Cabinet 200 Mero Street Frankfort, Kentucky 40622 Phone: (502) 564-7250 Fax: (502) 564-5655 Prepared by Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc. 151 Walton Avenue Lexington, Kentucky 40508 Phone: (859) 252-4737 Fax: (859) 254-3747 Email: [email protected] CRA Project No.: K17K008 __________________________ ________________________ Charles M. Niquette, RPA Richard L. Herndon, RPA Co-Principal Investigator Co-Principal Investigator August 28, 2017 Lead Agency: Federal Highway Administration Kentucky Transportation Cabinet Item Number 10-8903.00 Statewide Contract No. PON2 1600003838, Letter Agreement 26-DBD OSA Project Registration No.: FY17_9229 ABSTRACT On June 26–27 and July 17, 2017, Cultural Resource Analysts, Inc., personnel conducted an archaeological survey for the proposed new Exit 55 along the Hal Rogers Parkway in western Perry County, Kentucky (Item No. 10-8903.00). The project area is situated west of the modern community of Hazard. The survey was conducted at the request of David Waldner of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet, Division of Environmental Analysis. The project area measured approximately 47.5 ha (117.4 acres) in total size. Of this area, approximately three-quarters (36.6 ha [90.4 acres]) consisted of the existing Hal Rogers Parkway right- of-way (ROW) and was not surveyed as part of the current investigations. The remaining 10.9 ha (26.9 acres) was examined by a combination of intensive pedestrian survey supplemented by systematic screened shovel testing of low visibility areas. A records review conducted at the Office of State Archaeology in May 2017 indicated that five previous archaeological surveys had been conducted within a 2.0 km (1.2 mi) radius of the project area. Two historic archaeological sites were identified as a result of these previous investigations. None of the surveys nor sites were located within the project area. No archaeological sites were recorded as a result of this survey. Therefore, no archaeological sites listed in, or eligible for listing in, the National Register of Historic Places will be affected by the proposed construction activities, and archaeological clearance is recommended for the portions of the project area that were surveyed by the current investigations. i TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ......................................................................................................................................................................i LIST OF FIGURES ........................................................................................................................................................ iii LIST OF TABLES .......................................................................................................................................................... iii I. INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 II. DESCRIPTION OF THE PROJECT AREA.............................................................................................................. 5 III. RESULTS OF THE FILE AND RECORDS SEARCH AND SURVEY PREDICTIONS ...................................... 10 IV. FIELD METHODS .................................................................................................................................................. 17 V. CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS ..................................................................................................... 18 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................................ 18 LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1. Map of Kentucky showing the location of Perry County. ............................................................................. 1 Figure 2. Location of project area on topographic quadrangle. .................................................................................. 2 Figure 3. Project area plan map. .................................................................................................................................. 3 Figure 4. Overview of the Coal Harbor Lane showing local topography. Photo taken adjacent to the project area, facing southwest. .................................................................................................................................................. 6 Figure 5. Overview of wooded area showing vegetation and slope. Photo taken near KY 451 north of the Hal Rogers Parkway, facing west-southwest. ........................................................................................................... 6 Figure 6. Overview of the southeastern portion of the project area showing modern hollow fill at the Briar Fork Circle Road and the driveway of the Frontline Ministries Church. Photo facing south-southwest. ................. 7 Figure 7. Modern highwall along the southern portion of the project area within the hollow fill area south of the parkway. Photo facing east. ................................................................................................................................. 7 Figure 8. Overview of man-made topography along KY 451 showing land grading and benching along the road. Photo facing northeast. ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Figure 9. Overview of the Collins Cemetery. Photo facing southwest. ...................................................................... 9 Figure 10. The 1913 Buckhorn 15-minute topographic quadrangle (USGS 1913), depicting MS1–MS4.............. 14 Figure 11. The 1954 Krypton 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle (USGS 1913), depicting MS1–MS3, and MS5– MS20. .................................................................................................................................................................. 15 Figure 12. The 1961 Krypton 7.5-minute topographic quadrangle (USGS 1913), depicting MS1–MS3, and MS5– MS22. .................................................................................................................................................................. 16 LIST OF TABLES Table 1. Soil Families, Series, and Phases Identified in the Currently Defined Project Area. ................................ 10 Table 2. Summary of Selected Information for Previously Recorded Archaeological Sites in Perry County, Kentucky. Data Obtained from OSA and May Contain Coding Errors. ........................................................... 12 Table 3. Historic Map Review Results........................................................................................................................ 17 iii testing was not conducted within close I. INTRODUCTION proximity of the marked utilities. n June 26–27 and July 18, 2017, Cultural Project Description O Resource Analysts, Inc. (CRA), personnel conducted an archaeological survey for the new The project consists of an archaeological Exit 55 and associated interchange west of the survey for the proposed new Exit 55 on the Hal community of Hazard, Kentucky, in Perry Rogers Parkway (KY 9006) west of Hazard, County (Figure 1). The survey was conducted Kentucky (see Figures 2 and 3). The current at the request of David Waldner of the project entails the construction of a new Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC). interchange approximately 1.8 km (1.1 mi) west The field investigations were carried out by of Exit 56 on the Hal Rogers Parkway. Brian G. DelCastello and required The Hal Rogers Parkway is one of approximately 29 person hours to complete. Kentucky’s primary east-to-west transportation corridors, providing access to the Interstate System. This road is also part of Kentucky’s Extended Weight Coal Haul Route. In this capacity, the parkway is used to transport coal in both east and west directions throughout the state. The new Exit 55 will connect the Hal Rogers Figure 1. Map of Kentucky showing the location of Parkway to Briar Fork Circle Road (KY 451). Perry County. The proposed project will allow for quicker and safer access to the parkway for the local The project area measured approximately residents. This exit will also provide access to 47.5 ha (117.4 acres) in total size. Of this area, hundreds of acres of reclaimed surface mines as approximately three-quarters (36.6 ha [90.4 local governments struggle to bring replacement acres]) consisted of the existing Hal Rogers jobs to the region. Parkway right-of-way (ROW). This section Portions of both the northern and southern was not surveyed as part of the current edges of the Hal Rogers Parkway will be investigations. The remaining 10.9 ha (26.9 affected by the proposed construction of the new acres) was examined by a combination of an exit. In addition, a segment of KY 451, north of intensive pedestrian survey