Mr. Robert R. Budway, President October 16, 2007
Town Council
Town Hall
195 Danielson Pike
North Scituate, RI 02857
Re: Lawton Parcel
Seven Mile Road, Scituate, RI
Dear Mr. Budway:
We have been contacted by several Scituate residents who are concerned about the town’s plan to develop part of the above-referenced open space property for football fields and parking.
In 1989 this office wrote to RIDEM in support of the town’s proposed open space grant proposal. At that time we identified the entire 55 acre parcel as potentially sensitive for archaeological sites as the general area had been identified by Indian artifact collectors in the 1920s. Based on this information we had previously designated the area as archaeological site RI 608. We cannot determine with certainty (using the sketch map made in the 1920s) if the collectors found artifacts within the currently-defined Lawton parcel. It is likely, however, that artifacts are present, as the parcel is a large, fairly level expanse of well-drained soils, located between two small streams. Areas such as these often contain Native American archaeological sites.
Based on our 1989 assessment of the parcel’s archaeological sensitivity and our recent inspection of the property, we recommend that prior to any ground disturbance within the parcel that the town conduct a Phase I archaeological survey to determine if any potentially significant archaeological sites are present; and if any potentially significant sites are discovered to avoid impacts to them.
These comments are provided in accordance with the Rhode Island Historical Preservation Act. If you have any questions, please contact Dr. Paul A. Robinson, Principal Archaeologist, at 222-4139.
Very truly yours,
Edward F. Sanderson
Executive Director
Deputy State Historic Preservation Officer
Cc: Richard Iverson, Town Recreation Director; Lisa Primiano, RIDEM; John Brown, NITHPO
(071016.03)