Archaeological Sites and Property Development

Extracted text (beginning)

Where can you get 
more information?
 
 
Cover and inside page photo: Fort Victoria 1858, #PDP03885 
– courtesy of British Columbia Archives.
Back page photo: Kitwanga, by J.S. O’Dwyer, no. 101588  
– courtesy of the Canadian Museum of Civilization.
Points to consider before
improvements and renovations:
1.   Why should I be concerned about 
archaeological sites on my property?
 In many cases archaeological sites are 
our only link to our past.  They provide 
us with a wealth of knowledge about our 
heritage, a fragile link to our origins and 
the nature of our early history in B.C. If 
we fail to preserve them we risk losing 
their cultural and historic value forever.  
Therefore, the Province controls 
damaging activities within these sites by 
protecting them by law and requiring a 
heritage permit to develop within site 
boundaries. Damaging a site without a 
heritage permit is unlawful. 
2.   What can I expect from my 
municipality, regional district and
the BC Archaeology Branch?
 Local governments may access the 
Provincial database to determine if these 
records show a site located within your 
property. If you are considering property 
improvements and have a site on your 
property, you must consult with a 
qualified archaeologist to determine the 
next steps. 
 If archaeological studies are required, 
the BC Archaeology Branch will work 
with you to avoid or minimize site 
damage during property improvements.
3.   Are there any costs involved? 
 The property owner is responsible for 
the costs of required archaeological 
studies. However, by taking early action, 
you can minimize the costs to manage 
impacts to the archaeological site.
What are archaeological sites?
An archaeological site is a location where 
there is evidence of past human activity. 
Archaeological site examples include stone 
carvings, remains of ancient houses and 
campsites, shell middens, culturally modified 
trees, and early trading posts. These sites 
provide information about aboriginal life 
during the last 12,000 years and non-
aboriginal life for the past 200 years.
Archaeological sites are fragile. The 
information contained in an archaeological 
site comes from the context in which artifacts 
are found as much as from the artifacts 
themselves. Once this context is destroyed 
through construction or landscaping, this 
information is lost, even if the artifacts are 
still there.
Archaeological sites, like mineral deposits, 
arable land, forests, fish and wildlife, are an 
important part of the environment.
The Heritage Conservation Act of British 
Columbia is the legislation that allows for the 
protection and conservation of 
archaeological sites.
B.C.’s Archaeology Branch can help you to 
ensure that improvements made to your 
property don’t do unnecessary harm to 
archaeological sites below the surface. 
Request data about a property:
www.archdatarequest.nrs.gov.bc.ca
To nd the Archaeology Branch visit: 
www.for.gov.bc.ca/archaeology
or phone:
(250) 953-

First 3,000 characters. Open the original for the whole document.