Phase I Archaeological Survey Along KY 92 in Whitley County, Kentucky
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PHASE I ARCHAEOLOGICAL By: SURVEY FOR THE Ann Shouse Wilkinson PORTION OF KY 92 Submitted by: RECONSTRUCTION IN CDM Smith 2525 Harrodsburg Rd. WHITLEY COUNTY, Suite 200 Lexington, KY 40504 KENTUCKY, FROM KY Prepared for: 1693 TO CORN BREAD KY Transportation Cabinet Division of Environmental BRANCH. Analysis Transportation Cabinet 200 Mero Street, 5th Floor KYTC ITEM # 11-184 Frankfort, Kentucky 40622 Kentucky Office of State Archaeology Project Number: FY16-8781 Phase I Archaeological Survey for the Portion of KY 92 Reconstruction in Whitley County, Kentucky, from KY 1693 to Corn Bread Branch. KYTC Item Number # 11-184.00 Authored by Ann Shouse Wilkinson Submitted by CDM Smith 2525 Harrodsburg Rd., Suite 200 Lexington, KY 40504 Prepared for Client: Kentucky Transportation Cabinet (KYTC) Division of Environmental Analysis Transportation Cabinet 200 Mero Street, 5th Floor Frankfort, Kentucky 40622 ________________________________________ J. David McBride, MA, RPA Principal Investigator: CDM Smith Contact: (859) 254-5759 or [email protected] Lead Federal Agency: Federal Highway Administration Kentucky Office of State Archaeology Archaeological Project Number: FY16-8781 Archaeology Report March 2017 PRINTED ON ACID-FREE PAPER Abstract A Phase I archaeological survey was conducted by archaeologists from CDM Smith at the request of the Kentucky Transportation Cabinet ahead of the proposed reconstruction of KY 92 between KY 1693 and Corn Bread Branch in Whitley County, Kentucky (KYTC Item Number 11-184). The survey involved twenty-seven separate survey areas of proposed permanent and temporary easements and new construction areas surrounding the preferred alignment (previously surveyed, Richmond and Clay 1998). The total APE consisted of approximately 47 acres (19 hectares). Field work was conducted on April 26th, 27th, 28th, and May 3rd of 2016. The survey identified four previously unrecorded archaeological sites (15Wh236, 15Wh237, 15Wh238, 15Wh239) and two isolated finds (IF 1, IF 2). Site 15Wh236 is a medium density, unassigned prehistoric lithic scatter with a small, late nineteenth to mid-twentieth century residential component. There were no surface or subsurface features within the site. The full site extent has not been tested, but the known site area within the APE was determined to be ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historical Places. No further archaeological work is recommended within the APE. Site 15Wh237 is a multi-component, low density plow zone scatter involving an unassigned prehistoric lithic scatter and a late nineteenth to late twentieth century residential farmstead component. There were no surface or subsurface features within the site. The full site extent has not been tested, but the known site area within the APE was determined to be ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historical Places. No further archaeological work is recommended within the APE. Site 15Wh238 is a light density, unassigned prehistoric lithic scatter. There were no surface or subsurface features within the site. The full site extent exists within the APE and the site was determined to be ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historical Places. No further archaeological work is recommended. Site 15Wh239 is an early to late twentieth century residential farmstead with an extant structure in ruins. The full site extent exists within the APE and the site was determined to be ineligible for nomination to the National Register of Historical Places. No further archaeological work is recommended. Also recorded were two prehistoric isolated finds (IF 1 and IF 2). No further work was recommended for any of these findings. i Table of Contents.docx Table of Contents Abstract ...................................................................................................................................................................................... i Table of Contents .................................................................................................................................................................. ii List of Figures........................................................................................................................................................................ vi List of Tables ......................................................................................................................................................................... ix Acknowledgements .............................................................................................................................................................. x 1.1 Project Sponsor and Regulatory Authority ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Purpose and Scope of Work .............................................................................................................................. 1 1.3 Project Location and Description ................................................................................................................... 1 1.4 Area of Potential Effect (APE)........................................................................................................................... 1 Figure 1-1. Project Location within Whitley County. ................................................................................................ 2 Figure 1-2. USGS Topographic Quadrangle Map Showing Project Location. .................................................. 3 Figure 1-3. Aerial Map Showing Project Location. ...................................................................................................... 4 1.5 OSA Records Research ........................................................................................................................................ 5 1.6 Principal Investigator ......................................................................................................................................... 5 1.7 Field and Laboratory Crew ................................................................................................................................ 5 1.7.1 Field Effort ........................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.7.2 Laboratory Effort .............................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.8 Maps and Figures .................................................................................................................................................. 5 1.9 Curation ................................................................................................................................................................... 5 1.10 Summary of Investigations ............................................................................................................................... 5 Section 2 - Environmental ............................................................................................................................................. 2-1 2.1 Physiography and Topography ........................................................................................................................................ 2-1 2.2 Geology ....................................................................................................................................................................................... 2-1 2.3 Hydrology .................................................................................................................................................................................. 2-4 2.4 Soils .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 2-4 2.5 Cherts ........................................................................................................................................................................................ 2-11 2.6 Prehistoric Climate Conditions ..................................................................................................................................... 2-11 2.7 Current Climate Conditions ............................................................................................................................................ 2-13 2.8 Prehistoric and Present Flora and Fauna ................................................................................................................. 2-13 2.9 Current Land Use ................................................................................................................................................................. 2-13 Section 3 - Cultural Context, Previous Investigation, and Summary of Known Sites .............................. 3-1 3.1 Prehistoric Period .................................................................................................................................................................. 3-1 3.1.1 Paleoindian Period .................................................................................................................................................... 3-1 3.1.1.1 The Early Paleoindian: Pre-Clovis ........................................................................................................