Phase 1B Archaeological Survey: Proposed Bennington Substation, Town of Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont

On behalf of Vermont Transco, LLC (VELCO), of Rutland, Vermont, The Louis Berger Group, Inc. (Berger), of Albany, New York, conducted a Phase IB archaeological survey for the proposed Bennington Substation, located in the Town of Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont. VELCO has determined an upgrade of the Bennington 115kV substation is required to meet the Independent System Operator of New England (ISONE) operating and reliability criteria.

Subsurface survey was conducted at 18 archaeologically sensitive areas previously identified by Berger, and 179 shovel tests were excavated across the APE. As a result of these investigations, six archaeological sites were identified and delineated and 237 artifacts (154 precontact lithic artifacts and 83 historic artifacts) were recovered in the APE. The sites consisted of two twentieth-century historical sites, three precontact sites, and one multicomponent site. When placed within the context of the handful of other small sites in similar locations along upland drainages, such as the nearby sites along Furnace Brook, Sites VT-BE-452, VT-BE-453, VT-BE-454 and VT-BE-455 could contribute to our understanding of how and why precontact people utilized this upland environment. In addition, the use of the locally available Cheshire Quartzite and a non-local dark gray chert can contribute to our understanding of precontact period lithic technological organization in the region.

It is Berger’s opinion that Sites VT-BE-452, VT-BE-453, VT-BE-454 and VT-BE-455 have yielded and/or are likely to yield information important in Vermont prehistory and are therefore eligible for listing in the National Register of Historic Places under Criterion D. Based on the results of the Phase I archaeological survey, it is Berger’s opinion that if Sites VT-BE-452, VT-BE-453, VT-BE-455, and VT-BE-455 are avoided during the proposed activities for this project, noted on construction plans, and fenced during construction, no additional work would be warranted throughout the project area. If these four sites cannot be avoided for this project, additional investigation may be necessary. Although the precise age of Sites VT-BE-456 and VT-BE-457 could not be determined, these sites are dated to the twentieth century based on historical research and informant interviews and supported by the concrete foundation construction methods and the few artifacts recovered. Site VT-BE-456 represents a small maple syrup sugar shack and Site VT-BE-457 was the location of a stable or horse barn. It is Berger’s opinion that these sites are not eligible for listing in the National Register and no further work is warranted.

受雇于佛蒙特州拉特兰市的佛蒙特Transco有限责任公司（Vermont Transco, LLC, 简称VELCO），纽约州奥尔巴尼的路易·贝杰集团股份有限公司（The Louis Berger Group, Inc., 简称Berger）为拟建的佛蒙特州本宁顿县本宁顿镇本宁顿变电站开展了IB阶段考古调查。VELCO认定，为满足新英格兰独立系统运营商（Independent System Operator of New England, 简称ISONE）的运行与可靠性标准，需对本宁顿115千伏变电站进行升级改造。
研究团队于Berger此前划定的18处考古敏感区域开展地下勘探，并在整个潜在影响范围（Area of Potential Effect, 简称APE）内完成179组探铲测试。经上述调查，本APE范围内共识别并划定6处考古遗址，出土237件遗物（其中154件为前接触期石质遗物，83件为历史时期遗物）。这批遗址包含2处20世纪历史遗址、3处前接触期遗址以及1处多成分遗址。
结合该区域沿高地水道分布的其他少量小型遗址（例如毗邻Furnace Brook的遗址），VT-BE-452、VT-BE-453、VT-BE-454与VT-BE-455四处遗址，有助于学界理解前接触期人类开发利用这一高地环境的方式与动因。此外，对本地产出的柴西石英岩（Cheshire Quartzite）及非本地深色灰燧石的使用研究，可增进我们对该区域前接触期石质技术组织模式的认知。
Berger认为，VT-BE-452、VT-BE-453、VT-BE-454与VT-BE-455四处遗址已出土或有望出土与佛蒙特州前史前史相关的重要信息，因此符合《国家史迹名录》（National Register of Historic Places）D标准（Criterion D）的入选资格。基于本次IB阶段考古调查结果，Berger提出：若本项目拟建施工活动中避开上述四处遗址（已在施工图纸中标注），并在施工期间对其进行围挡防护，则整个项目区域无需开展额外考古工作。若本项目无法避让这四处遗址，则需开展进一步考古调查。
尽管VT-BE-456与VT-BE-457的精确年代无法确定，但结合历史研究与知情人访谈结果，且有混凝土基础施工工艺与少量出土遗物佐证，可将这两处遗址判定为20世纪遗存。其中VT-BE-456为小型枫糖作坊遗址，VT-BE-457曾为马厩或谷仓遗址。Berger认为，这两处遗址不符合《国家史迹名录》的入选标准，无需开展后续考古工作。