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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20250989 Rt 9 / South Broadway Special Use Permit Preliminary Report - ArchaeologyPRELIMINARY REPORT PHASE I AND PHASE II CULTURAL RESOURCES SURVEY SOUTH BROADWAY COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMEMT CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS, SARATOGA COUNTY, NEW YORK OPRHP FILE 25PRO7972 Prepared for The BDC Group 15 Herbert Drive, Suite 3 Latham, New York 12110 Prepared by Stephen J. Oberon, Principal Investigator Columbia Heritage, LLC P.O. Box 235 Old Chatham, New York 12136 File CA866ABC-2-5-26 May 2026 TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.......................................................................................... I PHASE IA SITE ASSESSMENT STUDY.............................................................I PHASE IB SITE IDENTIFICATION SURVEY......................................................2 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY...................................................2 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD INVESTIGATION...............................................2 PHASE IB FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS............................................4 PHASE II SITE EVALUATION STUDY............................................................4 RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODOLOGY...................................................4 SUPPLEMENTARY HISTORICAL INVESTIGATION........................................5 ARCHAEOLOGICAL FIELD INVESTIGATION...............................................5 ANALYSIS, CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS................................7 INTRODUCTION Commercial development is proposed for an approximately 41.5-acre (16.8-hectare) parcel extending east from South Broadway (US Route 9) in the southwestern portion of the City of Saratoga Springs, Saratoga County, in the northeastern portion of the State of New York. The proposed development will be confined to the northwestern part of the parcel and is bordered by South Broadway on the west, an existing hotel on the north and northwest, and wetlands on the east, northeast and southeast. The affected area is topographically flat and populated by mostly young forest. No structures stand within or directly adjacent to the property. Because of its location near documented archaeological sites and its well -drained and flat physiographic character near wetlands and not far from Kayaderosseras Creek, a major local drainage, and along a road dating to the late 1811 century, the development area was assessed by the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) of the New York State Office of Parks, Recreation and Historic Preservation (OPRHP) as having an above -average potential for containing buried cultural resources and a Phase I cultural resources survey was requested. Complying with operative historic preservation laws, the applicant contracted Columbia Heritage, LLC to perform this survey. It was carried out between September 2025 and May 2026. This report summarizing the rationale, process, findings and recommendations of the cultural resources survey. A lengthier report will be submitted to the SHPO for review shortly and will include graphics, tables and appendices presenting these various aspects of the cultural resources survey in greater detail, as outlined in OPRHP guidelines. PHASE IA SITE ASSESSMENT STUDY A Phase I cultural resources survey consists of two parts. The first (Phase IA) involves a compilation of what is known about the affected area through consultation of published sources and the historical and archaeological site files maintained by the New York State Museum and the OPRHP and walking reconnaissance of the affected area. Its goal is to assess the specific potential for project impact to buried cultural resources and visual impact to standing historical structures or landscapes. This initial component was carried out by the Principal Investigator, assisted by Kim Croshier. Consulting the historical and archaeological site files revealed 13 documented sites of buried cultural remains within a one -mile (1.6-kilometer) radius of the project area. Seven of these are associated with the Native American occupation of the region, five date from the European American era, and one contains evidence of activity during both periods. One, listed as the J. Rouse Historic Site, stands within the project parcel just east of South Broadway. The nearest documented Native American era site lies some 0.6 miles (0.8 kilometers) to the southeast. Reconnaissance revealed the remains of a stone foundation and cellar related to the J. Rouse Site just east of the roadway. Based on these findings, an above -average potential was assessed for the presence of additional buried cultural remains within the project parcel. No structures listed on, nominated to or potentially eligible for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places were found to be located within the project view shed and the potential for adverse visual impact to significant cultural resources was assessed to be low. PHASE IB SITE IDENTIFICATION SURVEY Research Design and Methodology The goal of this second component of a Phase I cultural resources survey is to determine whether buried cultural resources are in fact present within the area proposed for project impact. Since the parcel is wooded, this would have to be determined by systematic archaeological sampling using hand -dug shovel tests. These would measure approximately 24 inches (60 centimeters) in diameter and would be dug using hand tools until culturally -sterile subsoil had been penetrated. Shovel test contents would be screened through 0.25-inch (6.25-millimeter) hardware cloth to facilitate the recovery of smaller cultural items and the stratigraphy of each test would be recorded in the field and compiled into a log to be included as an appendix in the final report. Archaeological Field Investigation A series of hand -dug shovel test transects was laid out and test holes were executed approximately 50 feet (15 meters) apart. This is considered an N appropriate sampling interval for detecting buried traces of Native and/or European American occupation in eastern New York State. Transects were placed approximately 50 feet (15 meters) apart, forming a grid pattern across the property. The locations of shovel tests were depicted on a Phase IB sampling map and will be included in the final report as an appendix. No evidence of Native American cultural activity or pre -World War II -era European American occupation was recovered across all but the southwestern corner of the property. Fieldwork was carried out by the Principal Investigator, a 36 CFR 61-certified archaeologist. Avoidance of impact to buried cultural resources is the preferred option for dealing with the presence of archaeological remains within an area of proposed impact. Since the presence of a stone foundation and cellar had been documented in the southwesternmost portion of the parcel during Phase IA reconnaissance, a goal of the Phase IB survey was to determine the spatial extent of the archaeological deposit associated with this structure in the hope that the archaeological site might be excluded from project impact. Hand -dug, screened shovel test transects like those described above were dug north, east and south from all visible surface walls and visible cultural material at approximately 26 foot (8 meter) intervals until two sequential shovel tests from which no cultural material was recovered had been documented. The second of these test hole locations were recorded on a project plan and presented as the possible limits of an archaeological impact avoidance zone. It was determined that impact avoidance of the entire area defined as containing the archaeological site was not feasible. Fortunately, the immediate vicinity of the stone house foundation and cellar hole, as well as the remains of this structure itself, would be included in the road setback and not subject to impact. Systematic archaeological sampling was now carried out in the portion of the proposed avoidance zone which would in fact be subject to project impact. A series of shovel test transects of the type described above but placed at 26-foot (8-meter) intervals, as is appropriate on a known European American era site, was executed between the eastern edge of the road setback and the limits of the archaeological site as previously defined. Visible architectural features were recorded and surface anomalies investigated. A probable refuse deposit was identified, as was a dry -laid surface foundation stub that appeared 3 to have been associated with an elongated, narrow structure, probably a shed. Evidence of two other refuse deposits was observed. These appear to represent refuse deposits along the edge of the downslope to the wetlands and had unfortunately been the subject of what appeared to have been bottle hunting. Much of the associated cultural material had been dug up and strewn across the ground surface around deep, casually -executed shovel holes. Phase IB Findings and Recommendations Based on systematic archaeological investigation of the project impact area, the potential was identified for the presence of additional buried cultural information in the southwesternmost portion of the development parcel. Such material would have been associated with the occupation of a small residential structure whose remains were identified just east of South Broadway and which had previously been designated the J. Rouse Historic Site. Phase IB archaeological sampling of the portion of this site within the project impact area identified the remains of one outbuilding and three refuse deposits against a background of sparsely scattered surface and subsurface European American era cultural items. Further investigation of these cultural features as part of a Phase II Site Evaluation Study is recommended to assess their archaeological integrity and potential for containing additional significant cultural information. No evidence of Native American cultural activity or potential structural remains or cultural features associated with the European American era of occupation were recovered in systematic archaeological sampling of the remainder of the project area. No further investigation is recommended here. PHASE II SITE EVALUATION STUDY Research Design and Methodology The goal of a site evaluation study is to collect sufficient information for the OPRHP reviewers to determine whether an archaeological deposit has the potential to produce significant cultural information and thereby meet this eligibility criterion for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. In order to accomplish this, additional documentary sources are consulted to learn more about the context of the site and its occupants, and the identified cultural and structural features are further investigated to retrieve a larger sample of 4 cultural material and attempt to clarify the period of occupation, function and degree of archaeological integrity they represent. Supplementary Historical Investigation The dry -laid field stone foundation identified during Phase IA reconnaissance in the extreme southwestern corner of the project parcel appears to also have been previously recorded during a survey carried out in 2012 and designated the J. Rouse Historic Site. This is supported by nineteenth century maps of this part of Saratoga County, which depict a residence in roughly this location. Geil and Beers both attribute the house to "J. Rouse" in 1856 and 1866, respectively, and Cramer and Mott show it as part of the 75 acres (30 hectares) pertaining to the "John Rouse Est[ate]" in 1879. During the nineteenth century, the road today known as South Broadway and this area as a whole were characterized by a scattered rural settlement pattern. Family farmsteads stood along roadways some distance apart and small clusters of institutional and service buildings such as schools, churches, hotels, smithies and shops were grouped around intersections. John P. Rouse occupied the property with his family during the middle decades of the nineteenth century. He was married to the former Elizabeth Pine and apparently lived in Greene County, New York before moving to Saratoga. He is listed in county records as a farmer, served a term as Town Tax Collector from 1856 to 1857 and died in 1861. His son, David L. Rouse (1838-1886), is shown to have resided on the property and worked as a farmer, although he is also listed as a partner in the Rouse and Perry Meat Market in Saratoga Springs. The younger Rouse does not appear to have held elected or appointed office or to have served in the military during the Civil War. Archaeological Field Investigation As described previously, the area to the east of the foundation remains which lies within the limits of project impact was archaeologically sampled during the Phase IB site identification survey and the spatial extent of above -ground wall stubs was marked. Transects of hand -dug shovel tests had been dug at roughly 26-foot (8-meter) intervals between the limits of the road setback and the wetland buffer. Additional shovel tests were dug at 13-foot (4-meter) intervals around structural features and relative concentrations of cultural material and their contents screened through hardware cloth as described previously. 5 The remains of three walls apparently associated with a single narrow elongated structure were identified, along with one relative concentration of buried cultural material. Unfortunately, this deposit had been disturbed prior to shovel testing by the execution of a backhoe pit associated with deep testing of the property. To minimize the loss of information caused by this action, all visible cultural material was systematically collected from the surface of the back -filled pit. In addition, six additional screened shovel tests were dug approximately six feet (two meters) apart around the periphery of the visible disturbance in an effort to locate soils beyond the limits of the pit that had not been excavated. One such subarea which retained intact soils was identified. Similar systematic surface collections of dislocated cultural material were carried out at the sites of two hand -dug deep excavation pits, identified in the eastern portion of the site during Phase I survey as the sites of two apparent refuse deposits. As noted, the pits dug here had apparently been executed in search of bottles at some time during the past several decades. Standard archaeological test units were laid out and executed in each of these locations in order to collect information relating to the function, character, integrity and age of the cultural material present. Test units extended 40 inches (one meter) on each side and were cardinally oriented, with the exception of Test Unit 1, which was aligned parallel and perpendicular to the foundation remains it was investigating. Unit excavation was carried out in arbitrary four -inch (10- centimeter) levels and in natural soils levels where they were found to occur. Recovered soils were again passed through 0.25-inch (6.25-millimeter) hardware cloth to facilitate the recovery of smaller cultural items and excavation continued through at least one level of culturally -sterile subsoil. Very little cultural material was recovered from Test Unit 1, dug in what was believed to have been the interior corner of the structure represented by the wall remains. A quantity of slate, some clearly associated with roofing, was recovered from this test unit and noted to be present on the ground surface in this subarea of the site. The slate found within the structure may well have been re -used, while that scattered and sometimes piled on the ground surface is likely to represent discarded former architectural material. 9 Cultural items recovered from Test Unit 2 indicated this was the site of a general domestic refuse deposit. It was found to contain bottle, vessel and window glass, iron nails of assorted sizes, wire, and architectural braces, various types of ceramics and some food remains, along with unburned hard coal, coal ash, wood ash, melted glass, and mortar. Material recovered from Test Unit 3 and Test Unit 4 contained mostly later domestic material, dating from between the turn of the twentieth century through the post -World War II era and containing whole and broken bottles, jars and metal containers of assorted types along with some twentieth century ceramics and rubber. Analysis, Conclusions and Recommendations The cultural material recovered from the J. Rouse Historic Site was found to date from the mid -nineteenth through the mid -twentieth century, with some later item found present on the ground surface and in the root and leaf mat. This is consistent with the period of occupation indicated by historical documents relating to the general settlement and development of this part of Saratoga County and this property in particular. The cultural items were also found to almost exclusively represent discarded domestic and architectural material, specifically bottle, vessel, lamp and window glass, assorted sizes of iron nails, as well as probable baling wire and braces, and in the case of Test Unit 1, quantities of slate, some with evidence of having served as roofing material. It appears the slate, rather than having been used on the roof of what appears to have been a shed, had been moved from another location and used to create a more stable floor surface in the sandy soil for the movement and storage of carts and other vehicles. Much of the slate consisted of moderate -size to very small pieces, with fewer larger roofing -size examples. A number, including some of the smaller pieces, were found to contain holes for the placement of nails and a few still contained the nails themselves. It seems logical to hypothesize that the slate was re -used after being removed from the roof of the residential structure or brought to the site from another building elsewhere in the area. tl The material recovered from Test Unit 2 appears to reflect ongoing deposition of domestic refuse over the second half of the nineteenth and first half of the twentieth century. Deposition reflected in the material recovered from Test Unit 3 and Test Unit 4 is more typical of the specialized trash disposal carried out starting during the late nineteenth century and located at greater distances from residences, often on naturally -occurring banks and at the edges of properties and wetlands. Based on the evidence gathered from documentary research and archaeological investigation, the J. Rouse Historic Site does not appear to have the potential to produce significant additional cultural information, was not associated with a significant local personage, and therefore is unlikely to meet National Register of Historic Places eligibility criteria. Consequently, development as proposed may be seen to have no impact on potentially significant cultural resources and no further investigation is recommended. Should future disturbance affect the foundation remains and vicinity currently excluded from impact, archaeological investigation of that area would be recommended. H: