Agenda - Environmental Policy Board - 01/25/2021

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all of them being of the Woodland Tradition, due to either diagnostic artifacts or archaeological features (i.e. burial mounds). The relatively high volume of pre-contact sites within two miles of the project area, as well as the indicate the project area exhibits reasonable potential to contain pre-contact cultural material. LiDAR data (provided by MNDNR) was examined in an attempt to identify any visible above-ground features with a potentially archaeological origin. These features were not identified, but viewing the LiDAR hillshade revealed the project area had been submerged in the Mississippi River floodplain in the past. The old river cut is distinct to the point at least two major previous river edges can be identified in the project area hillshade imagery, accompanied by clear sandbar deposits between the current river path and the previous flooded edge (Figure 3). 6.0 RESULTS Fieldwork was completed on October 9, 14, and 15, 2020. This began with surface survey of the cornfields, cabbage patch, and pumpkin patch on a four to five-meter interval. Surface visibility within all surface-surveyed areas varied between 0 and 80% (see Appendix B for example surface visibility photographs). No cultural materials or archaeological features were identified during the surface survey. Shovel testing was completed along three separate transects within the wooded portion of the project area. The first transect was located 15-meters northeast and parallel to the southwestern edge of the project area (the closest edge to the Mississippi River), and consisted of 25 shovel tests excavated at 15-meter intervals. All shovel tests were negative for cultural materials. Due to the non-cultural nature of the first transect, the second transect, placed 30-meters northeast and parallel to the first, contained 11 shovel tests excavated on a 30-meter interval. This transect was also negative for cultural material. Acknowledging this tested portion of the wooded area landed at times in the past floodplain, a third transect was placed on the highest ridge at the northeastern edge of the wooded area in an attempt to capture where the cultural activity may have been focused while this area was previously flooded (see the middle flooded river edge noted in the LiDAR Hillshade imagery in Figure 3). This transect consisted of sixteen shovel tests excavated on a 15- meter interval and was also negative for cultural material. See Figure 4 for an illustration of shovel tested and surface surveyed locations. All shovel tests were excavated to at least 80 centimeters below surface (cmbs), well into subsoils. Soil profiles were notably consistent across the shovel tested areas with the average profile containing 10YR 3/2 silty sandy loam 0 to approximately 20-30cmbs, followed by 10YR 3/3 to 10YR 3/6 sand from 20-30cmbs through shovel test termination at 80cmbs. Soils typically became more compact beginning around 50cmbs continuing through 80cmbs. Recorded soils exhibited no signs of human-related disturbance, and reflect the sandy soils deposition expected of the ancient floodplain terrace on which this portion of the project area is located. Considering the depth Phase I Archaeological Survey of Proposed Capstone Homes Housing Development 12 Ramsey, Anoka County, Minnesota Nienow Cultural Consultants, LLC