Cultural Resources Survey of the Crims Creek Bridge Replacement Project

Summary

"Brockington and Associates, Inc., conducted a cultural resources survey of the Crims Creek Bridge Replacement Project (Project BR-BR36(015), File No. 36.133B) for the South Carolina Department of Transportation in September-October 2005. This project will replace the existing Secondary Road (S-) 28 bridge over Crims Creek and will realign the intersection of S-28 and S-172 and the approaches of these roads to the new bridge. The survey identified two archaeological sites (38NE644 and 38NE646) and one historic architectural resource (1892) within the project; no historic properties lie near the project. Site 38NE644 is a diffuse scatter of Pre-Contact Native American lithic and ceramic artifacts on a low terrace overlooking Crims Creek. Site 38N646 is an old road that may be the route of the nineteenth century rail line from Alston station, on the east bank of the Broad River, to Newberry. Historic architectural resource 1892 is the former Norfolk and Southern Railroad trestle over S-28 and Crims Creek. We recommend the archaeological sites and historic architectural resource not eligible for the NRHP.

The survey also examined deeply buried alluvial deposits in the Crims Creek floodplain within the project. The pre-eighteenth century ground surface lies 2.5-6+ feet beneath the present ground surface, covered by recent alluvium. Holocene alluvial deposits extend beneath the recent alluvium to 10+ feet below surface. The buried deposits could contain archaeological materials but all of them reflect wet environments in the flood plain of Crims Creek. Such settings are not conducive to long term or intensive human occupation. Therefore, it is unlikely that deeply buried archaeological sites that may contain significant information about the Pre-Contact use of the Crims Creek valley are present within the project.

There are no historic properties within or near the project. Therefore, the project will not affect any historic properties."

This Resource is Part of the Following Collections

• Newberry County

Keywords

Temporal Coverage

Calendar Date: 1850 to 1850 (The Construction of the Peak railroad which the author believes led to the construction of the old road on the tract)

Calendar Date: 1770 to 1770 (Martin Schurer constructs a nearby ferry above Peak which the autho argues led to later investment in the area which led to the construction of the trestle )

Calendar Date: 1865 to 1865 (General Sherman's Union forces destroyed the nearby town and the railroad)

Calendar Date: 1861 to 1865 (The American Civil War)

Calendar Date: 1903 to 1903 (C & G built the railroad trestle that was standing during the time of the report)

Spatial Coverage

Individual & Institutional Roles

Contributor(s): Ed Salo; Allison Wind; David S. Leigh

Principal Investigator(s): Eric C. Poplin

Sponsor(s): The South Carolina Department of Transportation

Prepared By(s): Brockington and Associates, Inc.

Record Identifiers

SC DOT Project and File Number(s): BR-BR36(015), 36.133B

Notes

General Note: "Cultural resources survey of the Crims Creek Bridge Replacement Project in Newberry County, South Carolina, identified two archaeological sites (38NE644 and 38NE646) and one historic architectural resource (1892) within and adjacent to the project. Site 38NE644 is a small, diffuse scatter of Pre-Contact Native American lithic and ceramic artifacts on a low terrace above Crims Creek. Site 38NE646 is an old road that likely is the route of the original railroad line from Alston (on the east bank of the Broad River) to Newberry. Historic architectural resource 1892 is the twentieth century railroad trestle that carries the former CSX rail line over S-28 and Crims Creek. We recommend these two sites and the railroad trestle not eligible for the NRHP. We also searched for deeply buried archaeological deposits in the Crims Creek flood plain within the project. While recent sediments cover most of the flood plain at depths of 2.5-6+ feet, the underlying alluvial deposits reflect fairly wet environments. Such settings are not likely areas for the kinds of human settlements that are likely to create artifact deposits or soil features that will provide significant information about the past use of the Crims Creek valley. Thus, it is unlikely that there are buried archaeological sites within the project that may be eligible for the NRHP. The project as currently designed will not affect any historic properties. The project warrants no further management consideration with respect to historic resources. Should the project be redesigned, further survey may be required to determine if historic properties are present that may be affected by other alignments of the proposed project."

Administration Note: The first report found in the document focuses on Brockington and Associates, Inc. findings during the survey. The second report was done by David S. Leigh of the University of Georgia documenting geomorphic data for the area and should be treated as a separate document.

File Information