What a Site Overview Entails
British Columbia’s heritage conservation
legislation protects unknown as well as recorded
archaeological sites, so part of the planning
process for any development is to identify areas
that might contain unrecorded archaeological
sites. These areas can be identified through an
Archaeological Overview Assessment.
These studies involve a review by professional
archaeologists to map out zones of archaeological
potential and distribution. Existing knowledge about the
archaeological sites and precontact land use in the area
is compiled and used to identify similar areas on the
landscape. Mapping divides the landscape into areas of
high and low potential to contain archaeological sites.
Known sites are included among the high potential areas.
Potential mapping does not show the precise location
of known sites. These maps may be included in official
community plans as a reference for property owners,
developers and local government staff.
Archaeological maps do not exist for most of the
province. However, there are provincial standards to
guide this work and cost-shared funding is available to
assist local governments in producing archaeological
potential maps of their jurisdiction.
If a mapped area of high archaeological potential
overlaps with a proposed development, the proponent must
hire a qualified consulting archaeologist to determine
whether an archaeological impact assessment is required.
This may necessitate a field visit, also known as a
preliminary field reconnaissance.
If an impact assessment is not required, the
archaeologist will summarize the findings in a letter
sent to the proponent and copied to the branch.
For more information, please see:
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