Archaeological Consultants and Contractors - Archaeological Assessments & Excavations

Consulting Services

What we do best - Stage 1 to 4 Archaeological Assessments…

Archaeological assessments are often required in advance of residential / commercial development or service projects (i.e. road widenings, utility corridors, and waste management facilities) in order to meet provincial (Ministry of Culture) and municipal legislation. Archaeological Consultants and Contractors is qualified to engage in historic and archival document searches and undertake intensive field surveys and excavations to in order to satisfy MoC requirements and guidelines. Archaeological assessments are carried out through a stepwise process, starting with a background literature & archival search (a.k.a. Stage 1 archaeological assessment). This is typically combined with an intensive field survey (Stage 2 archaeological assessment) as the early detection of a significant archaeological site through a detailed field assessment allows for the modification of a project's draft plan and timeline with a minimum of delay and expense. Most projects will start with a combined Stage 1 & 2 assessment.

The following is a summary of what each stage (if applicable to your property) will entail:

Stage 1 - The Archival Search (Paperwork…)
During archival and historic records research of a subject property, archaeological potential is assessed through the both identification of any known historic or pre-contact archaeological sites that have been registered on the subject property or through the identification of structures present on historic maps. This data can give the client an idea of what may be expected in terms of potential heritage concerns.

Stage 2 – The Initial Field Assessment (Walking…)
A stage 2 archaeological assessment comprises the field review of the subject property. An archaeological field crew assesses the subject property under the guidance of a licensed field supervisor. On farmland, this assessment is typically carried out by means of a 5m pedestrian survey of the subject property. In cases where the property is a woodlot, the property may be assessed through shovel test-pitting, in which small pits (30 cm in diameter by approximately 30 cm in depth) are excavated and the material is screened through 6mm mesh. In urbanized or developed areas, ACC utilizes remote sensing (i.e. GPR, resistivity survey) and test trenching in order to determine the likelihood of archaeological deposits on the property.

If artifacts are encountered, they are catalogued and analyzed to determine their cultural and temporal affiliation, as well as their archaeological and/or their historical significance. If the deposit is deemed significant, Stage 3 work will be required.

Stage 3 – Test Unit Excavations (The Little Dig…)
The goal of stage 3 work is twofold; to define the limits of the archaeological deposit, and to determine if the deposit is substantial enough to tell us something about the people that created it.

The stage 3 strategy for historic and pre-contact sites is essentially the same- to determine the extent of the archaeological deposit. The first step is a controlled surface collection, in order to record the location of each artifact found on the surface. Following this, a map is produced to reveal the density and distribution of the archaeological material. A grid is then established across the site and the surface scatter map is then employed to guide the placement and excavation of a series of one meter square test units across the site. Each unit is hand excavated to sterile subsoil and the soil contents screened through six-millimeter wire mesh in order to maximize the recovery of artifacts. The test units and grid are referenced to a site datum, and the location of each unit is recorded.

Stage 4 – Mitigative Excavation (The Big Dig…)
A Stage 4 requirement demands the total excavation of an archaeological deposit. Stage 4 recommendations are ideally avoided through the creation of a protected green-space, which surrounds and protects the archaeological deposit for future generations. However, in many cases, the avoidance of an archaeological deposit is not feasible and the site must be excavated. When this occurs, Archaeological Consultants and Contractors is qualified and capable of conducting the excavation of any archaeologically significant deposits that can potentially occur within a subject property using responsible and cost-effective techniques.

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