Archaeological Impact Assessment Guidelines

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

Mitigation Report

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

• Methodology

• Results and Discussion

• Interpretation

• Conclusions and 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 project,
2. how the study integrates or coordinates with project planning and scheduling,
3. the objectives and scope of the impact management program including specific research problems,
4. the dates and duration of the study,
5. the persons conducting the study and the kinds of professional expertise involved, and
6. the organization format of the report.

Study Area

This section should contain a succinct description of the location and boundaries of the study area, including specific areas in which mitigation activities were undertaken. Previous studies which provide comprehensive descriptions of the study area should be referenced. However, biophysical, socio-economic, political or cultural factors which have a direct and pertinent bearing on the study should be explicitly stated.

Methodology

The basic research plan and the precise methods and equipment used to implement the plan should be documented in this section. All relevant aspects of the operating environment should be discussed.

Results and Discussion

The results of mitigation or compensation should be presented and discussed here. A thorough analysis of all recovered data should be provided.

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.

Interpretation

An interpretation of results is primarily required for systematic data recovery and other investigative projects. The interpretation should focus on the research problems and study objectives initially identified.

Conclusions and Recommendations

This section should contain a synthesis of the impact management studies. New research problems and hypotheses generated by systematic data recovery or for future research and resource management should also be included.

References Cited

All literary sources cited in the report such as publications, documents and records, as well as names and dates of all personal communications should be listed here.

Appendices

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

1. appropriate tables, charts, graphs, maps and other supportive materials,
2. a list of recorded archaeological sites directly relevant to the study, and
3. a complete catalogue of all cultural materials, faunal and floral remains, and ancillary samples collected during systematic data recovery operations.

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