APPENDIX A End of Field Letter Report for the Archaeological Phase I Site Identification Survey for the proposed Bluffside Farm Recreational Trails, Newport, Orleans County, Vermont Prepared by: Charles Knight, Ph.D. Prepared for: Tracy Zschau Conservation Director Vermont Land Trust 171 Scott Farm Road Newport, VT 05855 University of Vermont Consulting Archaeology Program 180 Colchester Avenue 111 Delehanty Hall Burlington, VT 05405 Report No. 1140 May 30, 2018 Table of Contents Introduction...............................................................................................................................3 Environmental Context .............................................................................................................3 Known pre-Contact Archaeological Sites ................................................................................3 Field Methods and Results ........................................................................................................4 Conclusions and Recommendations .........................................................................................5 Appendix I: Test Pit Profiles .................................................................................................. 10 List of Figures Figure 1. Map showing the location of the proposed Bluffside Farm Recreational Trails, in relation to archaeological sensitivity factors, Newport, Orleans County, Vermont................6 Figure 2. Schematic layout of the proposed alignments of the Bluffside Farm Recreational Trails, Newport, Orleans County, Vermont................................................................................7 Figure 3. Map showing the limits of the alignments of the proposed Bluffside Farm Recreational Trails, Newport, Orleans County, Vermont.........................................................8 Figure 4. Map showing the locations of the Phase 1 test pits within the limits of the proposed Bluffside Farm Recreational Trails, Newport, Orleans County, Vermont.............9 UVMCAP Report #1140 2 Introduction The Vermont Land Trust proposes the Bluffside Farm Recreational Trails, Newport, Orleans County, Vermont (Figure 1). The proposed project will develop an approximately 1-km long multi-use path within Bluffside Farm in Newport, Vermont (Figure 2). The path segment would extend between the existing Beebe Spur Access Path, located on Prouty Drive and the Prouty Beach Recreation Area. The path would be routed through the Bluffside Farm property. It would include a bridge or raised boardwalk at the entrance to Scott’s Cove and would potentially include a trailhead parking area adjacent to Prouty Drive. A parallel footpath also is proposed for sometime in the future, that would cut through the adjoining woods along its length (Figure 3). Partial funding for development of this report made possible by a Rural Business Development Grant through the Northern Community Investment Corporation from USDA Rural Development. The University of Vermont Consulting Archaeology Program conducted an Field Inspection of the proposed project area as part of the Section 106 permitting process and determined that the entire length of the multi-use trails within the limits of the existing hay fields is archaeologically sensitive. The majority of the multi-use trail within the woods, and the bridge crossing, is not archaeologically sensitive due to slope. However, the eastern access of the footpath from the hayfield into the woods is archaeologically sensitive, as are several other small sections throughout the woods. A Phase I site identification survey of the project parcel was recommended for these sensitive areas. Environmental Context The proposed project’s APE is located on an elevated promontory of a point that is locally known as "Indian point", which overlooks a major, southern bay of Lake Memphremagog. This bay also contains the city of Newport along its southern shores, as well as several river mouths, such as the Barton River, the Clyde River, and the Black River. As a result, the project area may have been a major convergence location for pre-Contact Native Americans between the lake and numerous points inland. The soils within the project area are sandy loams with 0 to 5 Percent slopes, which reflect shallow and well-drained soils. At the time of the Phase I study, some of the project alignment had been plowed and harrowed, while another part of the project alignment was wooded. Known pre-Contact Archaeological Sites No pre-Contact or historic period sites are known from within, or adjacent to the proposed project alignment. The closest pre-Contact Native American site is VT-OL-55, located 1.5 km southeast of the southern end of the project alignment. Site VT-OL-55 represents the remains of a pre-Contact Native American habitation site that was identified below the remains of several historic period buildings, identified during the construction of the Hebard State Office UVMCAP Report #1140 3 Building. The archaeological remains were mixed with historic period artifacts at all levels and therefore, the site was not National Register eligible. Nonetheless, the importance of this site for the currently proposed project is that it represents a significant Native American occupation somewhere in the immediate vicinity of the state building, and adjacent to the proposed project area, along the southern shore of Lake Memphremagog in Newport. A further 180 m west of site VT-OL-55 is site VT-OL-56, which represents a historic period Euroamerican site that was uncovered during the same construction associated with the Hebard State Office Building. Finally, another 500 m east of these two sites, historic period site VT-OL-20 is located just south of Clyde Street and represents the remains of a mid-19th century dwelling, with a cellar hole and other historic artifacts remaining. None of these sites will be disturbed by the proposed proejct. Field Methods and Results The Phase I study consisted of a surface walkover of the entire length of the project trail in one direction, while portions of the returning direction through the woods was tested with the excavation of 32, 50 x 50 cm (20 x 20 in) test pits arrayed along 4 linear transects (Figure 3). All test pits were excavate at 5 m intervals along these 4 transects. Two areas were studied with subsurface test pits. Area 1 is in the center of the overall trail, centered on the location of the proposed loop trail alternative which was located in a wooded area to the south of the northern plowed trails section. Three transects, designated Transects 1-3, were used to sample this area. The transects were aligned on an abandoned farm access road. Transects 1 and 2 extended from the plowed trail and south to a turn on the road as it nears the steep terrace edge overlooking the lake. Transects 1 and 2 were parallel and spaced 2.5 (8 ft) apart, with the test pits in each transect offset by 2.5 m (8 ft). The test pits in these transects were spaced at 5 m (16 ft) intervals. Transect 1 contained 7 test pits, and Transect 2, 6 test pits. Transect 3 was located to the east of Transects 1 and 2 and contained a total of 13 test pits spaced at 5 m (16 ft) intervals. No archaeological sites were identified in Area 1. Soil profiles were variable with regard to plowing in Area 1. The average soil profile included either a thin A Horizon stratum or a thicker Ap Horizon stratum, 25 cm (10 in) in depth. This was underlain by intact Bs or B strata The test pits were excavated to depth of 40-55 cm (16-22 in) below ground surface. The soils were either very fine sandy loam, find sand, and very fine sand. A total of 26 test pits were excavated in Area 1. Appendix 1 presents a sample of test pit profiles from along each transect. Area 2 was located near the eastern terminus of the northern plowed trail. Transect 4 was aligned within the plowed trail and parallel to a 3-4 m (10-13 ft) high terrace edge overlooking a stream/wetland complex to the east and south. Transect 4 contained 6 test pits spaced at 5 m (16 ft) intervals. No sites were found in Area 2. The soil profiles along Transect 4 included an Ap Horizon plowzone underlain by intact B Horizon subsoil. The test pits were excavated to a depth UVMCAP Report #1140 4 of 40-50 cm (16-20 in) below surface. A total of 6 test pits were excavated in Area 2. The locations of the first and last test pit of each transect was recorded with a handheld Global Positioning System (GPS) to ensure their accurate placement on appropriate maps and design plans. All facets of the Phase I study were recorded in color digital camera format. Conclusions and Recommendations The University of Vermont Consulting Archaeology Program (UVM CAP) conducted an archaeological Phase I site identification survey as part of the Bluffside Farm Recreational Trails project within an agricultural field and wooded area atop of Indian Point north of Newport, Vermont. The Phase I study included the a surface walkover and systematic excavation of 32 test pits along 4 linear transects as part of the Section 106 permitting process. No archaeological sites were identified. Based on the results of the Phase I study, the UVM CAP recommends that no further archaeological study is warranted as proposed project construction will have no effect on significant cultural resources. UVMCAP Report #1140 5 Figure 1. Map showing the location of the proposed Bluffside Farm Recreational Trails, in relation to archaeological sensitivity factors, Newport, Orleans County, Vermont.