2001 S Purchasing Contract with Legacy Research Associates, Inc. (Archaeological Survey of Little River Park)

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or more of the ground surface is visible and where there is no potential for buried (and thus obscured) archaeological resources. It is not effective in areas where less than 50 percent of the surface is exposed, or in places where alluvial or colluvial soil deposits are likely to be present. For the present project, this method will likely be used primarily in examining trails, dirt roads, or transmission line corridors. In such areas, the researchers will walk slowly along the exposed area looking for artifacts or other indications of an archaeological site. If larger areas of exposed ground are present, the researchers will traverse the area in transects spaced no more than 30 meters apart. The location of all areas examined through surface survey will be placed on the project map. Subsurface Survev. Most parts of the survey area will likely require subsurface testing due to the presence of vegetation. Such testing will consist of the excavation of systematic shovel tests at 30 -meter intervals along regularly spaced transacts placed at 30 -meter intervals. Shovel tests will not be excavated in areas where slope exceeds 15 percent, areas of standing water, or hydric soils. Each shovel test will measure about 30 -35 cm in diameter, and will be excavated to sterile subsoil, bedrock, or a maximum depth of 70 cm. All removed soil will be screened through one - quarter -inch mesh hardware cloth to ensure uniform artifact recovery. Each shovel test will be described in terms of depth, stratigraphy, and artifact recovery, and the texture and Munsell soil color of all soils will be recorded. The location of all survey transects will be placed on the project map. Site Delineation. When a site is encountered, standard procedures will be followed to gather preliminary data on cultural affiliation, site size and boundaries, integrity, and significance in terms of eligibility for the National Register of Historic Places. These procedures will likely include the excavation of additional shovel tests at 15 -meter to 7.5- meter intervals and /or intensive surface inspection, depending on site characteristics. All such testing will be confined to the project study corridor. A sketch map of each site discovered or relocated will be produced, and the site and its limits will be entered on the project map. The location of each shovel test will be placed on the site sketch map, and notes will be maintained on the soil profiles and artifact content of each shovel test. Each site will be photographed and general notes will be taken concerning site location and condition. Archaeological sites will be defined as occurrences of three or more artifacts within a discrete locale, and /or localities that exhibit evidence of intact surface or subsurface cultural features. Occurrences of fewer than three artifacts will be designated isolated finds, but sufficient investigations will be made to verify the isolated nature of the occurrence. All artifacts recovered will be bagged by site and intra -site provenience. The Principal Investigator and Field Director will maintain detailed notes on the survey methodology, sites identified on the survey, and relevant environmental factors. Cemeteries. Any cemeteries found will be recorded, but they will not be probed to determine boundaries or the number of graves present. If unmarked human burials or skeletal remains are found, the State Archaeologist will be notified immediately, following the provisions of north Carolina G.S. 70, Article 3, The Unmarked Human Burial and Skeletal Remains Protection Act. 5