What an Archaeological Impact
Assessment Entails
Archaeological impact assessment studies are
required where potential conflicts have been
identified between archaeological resources and
a proposed development.
Sites are located and recorded, and site significance
is evaluated to assess the nature and extent of expected
impacts. The assessment includes recommendations to
manage the expected impact of property development on
the site.
These recommendations may include:
- Avoiding the site.
- Recovering archaeological site information prior
to land altering activities.
- Monitoring for additional archaeological site
information during land altering activities.
Assessments require a
heritage inspection permit
[67kb] issued by the branch. Permitted archaeological impact
assessments are used to identify site locations,
evaluate site significance and determine the magnitude
of development related impact when sites cannot be
avoided.
The branch reviews the application and permit
deliverables, such as a report, manages consultation
with First Nations, and provides management direction
for the sites.
If the site is found to be highly significant and
development cannot avoid disturbing these values,
systematic data recovery excavations may be required
to retrieve information that will be destroyed as part
of development. These studies may answer general
questions such as the age of the site, the nature of
activities that took place there and the season of site
occupation. Detailed systematic data recovery can be
expensive, but is relatively rare, as most developments
have the flexibility to minimize disturbance to
archaeological sites by avoiding them.
If development activities such as harvesting trees,
excavating utility trenches, or other ground disturbing
activities need to be conducted within the boundaries of
a recorded archaeological site, a
site alteration permit
[44kb] is required. These permits are issued by the
branch, except in the case of some oil and gas projects,
which are issued by the Oil and Gas Commission. Permit
applications may be prepared by a qualified professional
archaeologist on behalf of the developer, and are
designed to minimize and mitigate impacts to the
archaeological site.
For more information, please see:
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