Archaeological Impact Assessment Guidelines

Appendix A (Part 1 of 3): Guidelines for Report Content

Overview Report

• Title Page
• Credit Sheet
• Management Summary
• Table of Contents
• List of Figures, Tables, Appendices
• Introduction
• Proposed Project
• Study Area

• Methodology

• Results

• Evaluation and Discussion

• Recommendations

• References Cited

• Appendices

Title Page

The title page should include:

1. the official project name and location,
2. the type of archaeological resource assessment,
3. the number of the permit or ministerial order under which the research activities were authorized, if applicable,
4. the name and address of the agency for which the report was prepared,
5. the report date, and
6. the author's signature and title.

Credit Sheet

The credit sheet should contain the names, addresses and professional affiliations of the principal contributors to the overview study including:

1. the director or supervisor,
2. researchers, and
3. report author.

Management Summary

The management summary should contain a brief overview of the study. Important findings and major recommendations should be emphasized.

Table of Contents

The table of contents should be arranged in accordance with the sequence of topical headings and their corresponding page numbers.

List of Figures, Tables, Appendices

All figures, tables and appendices should be referenced by title and page number, and listed according to the order in which they appear in the text of the report.

Introduction

The introduction should include:

1. the name of the proponent and general nature of the proposed development,
2. project planning objectives,
3. the objectives and general scope of the archaeological overview,
4. the agency and persons conducting the assessment, as well as the kinds of professional expertise involved,
5. the dates and duration of the study, and
6. the organizational format of the report.

Proposed Project

This section should contain a brief summary of all pertinent development aspects of the proposed project. With the aid of maps, engineering plans, photos and other materials, the discussion should include, insofar as possible:

1. boundaries of the projected impact zone or study area for each project alternative considered,
2. the kinds and anticipated locations of all ancillary facilities,
3. general kinds of impacts the proposed project would likely have on archaeological resources in the study area,
4. aspects of project scheduling, and
5. alternative project designs or locations.

Study Area

This section should contain a brief description of the study area. The discussion should emphasize biophysical characteristics, both past and present, that may have influenced the density, distribution, variety and potential significance of archaeological resources.

Methodology

The basic research plan and the precise methods and equipment used to implement the plan should be documented in this section. Where the overview focuses on selecting a preferred project design from among several alternatives, the role of archaeological data in the selection process should be described.

Results

This section should contain the results of documentary research, direct consultation, and if applicable, preliminary field reconnaissance. Information should be reported here only to the extent that it relates to the basic objectives of the overview.

Results of the background research should include:

1. a description of past land uses,
2. a summary of previous archaeological sites reported in the study area and a map showing their location.
3. a brief narrative description of all archaeological sites reported in the study area and a map showing their location.

Results of the preliminary field reconnaissance should include:

4. maps showing areas surveyed,
5. maps showing the location of all sites observed and recorded,
6. a brief narrative description and photo record of all recorded sites,
7. results of subsurface testing, surface collecting, or both, if applicable,
8. a description of all cultural materials observed or collected, and
9. results of experiments to determine a suitable archaeological site survey strategy for the study area.

Evaluation and Discussion

The assessment of archaeological resource potential in the study area, based on the major findings of background research and preliminary field reconnaissance, should be presented here. The assessment should be made from a local, regional and provincial perspective and should be based on known archaeological sites, as well as reported and predicted sites. In this section, the consultant should:

1. identify major information gaps in the archaeological resource base,
2. state predictions about the kinds and number of archaeological sites to be expected,
3. discuss and, insofar as possible, interpret the nature, distribution, and potential significance of archaeological resource values within the study area,
4. discuss, in general terms, potential impacts on the archaeological resource base and possible options for managing impacts, and
5. discuss local public attitude toward potential project impacts on archaeological resources.

Recommendations

The need for further archaeological studies, as well as the scope of these studies, should be identified and discussed here. If appropriate, the discussion should be directed toward the preferred project alternative selected on the basis of engineering, socio-economic and environmental considerations. Recommendations for further assessment should include:

1. maps showing precise areas requiring intensive field survey,
2. justification for no survey action in areas suggesting high archaeological resource potential,
3. a description of areas requiring special field consideration, and
4. the site survey strategy and methods to be used.

References Cited

A comprehensive list of all literary sources cited in the overview report such as publications, documents and records should be presented in this section. The reference list should also include names and dates of all personal communications.

Appendices

A variety of items should be appended to the overview report including:

1. a copy of the proponent's or consultant's terms of reference for the overview studies,
2. a bibliography of data sources consulted, but not necessarily cited in the report, which may be useful for future research,
3. names and addresses of persons or organizations interviewed during the background research stage of the study, and
4. a list of all recorded archaeological sites in the study area, as well as unrecorded sites reported in the literature or through informant interviews.

An impact assessment research proposal indicating specific study objectives, inventory, evaluation and impact assessment methods, work schedules, and other information may also be appended to the overview report. In some cases, the report itself may constitute the impact assessment proposal.

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