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Archaeological Assessment FAQs

 

Q: Why do I need an archaeological assessment for my project?

A: All projects that might alter the ground surface need to be screened for an archaeological assessment as a function of our professional obligation to ensure that no archaeological sites are impacted on or near TRCA lands. Projects may include installation of trails, construction of picnic shelters, infrastructure works, and even minor property maintenance. These projects often include access routes, staging, and stockpiling areas that also require assessment.

 

 

Q: How do I know if I need an archaeological assessment for my project?

A: The Archaeology Supervisor responsible for Field Projects will screen each Archaeological Assessment Request and will inform the Project Manager if an archaeological assessment is required.

It is strongly advised that the Archaeological Assessment Request be submitted within the early stages of the project planning process so that any required archaeological assessments are scheduled and completed well ahead of the construction schedule. This will permit ample time to plan and implement any necessary mitigation measures which may arise from the initial survey, such as site excavation or site avoidance alterations to the project plans. It also allows sufficient time for report review by the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) to ensure that all archaeological concerns are addressed.

 

 

Q: What Stage of archaeological assessment does my project need?

A: There are four stages of archaeological assessment in Ontario. Your project may not require all of them. The Stages can be briefly summarized as follows:

Stage 1 – Background Study: A stand-alone Stage 1 is a detailed study of Indigenous and historic land use that provides an assessment of archaeological potential. No archaeological fieldwork is completed. Stage 1 background studies are often contributing studies as part of larger EA or Major Maintenance Projects and Feasibility studies.

Stage 2 – Property Assessment: A Stage 2 assessment is a field survey completed to determine if archaeological sites are located within a project area. It may follow a stand-alone Stage 1 background study or it may be combined with an abbreviated Stage 1 for typical construction and maintenance projects. The majority of projects conducted on TRCA lands are assessed through a combined Stage 1-2 assessment.

Stage 3 – Site-Specific Assessment: A Stage 3 assessment determines the size and significance of a previously discovered archaeological site. Stage 3 assessments are conducted to determine the cultural heritage value or interest of the site and whether full excavation is required prior to project implementation.

Stage 4 – Mitigation of Development Impacts: A Stage 4 provides documentation of the excavation of an archaeological site or the avoidance and protection measures put in place to preserve a site. Excavations are only conducted on TRCA lands if all measures to avoid and protect a site have been exhausted.

 

 

Q: How much will the assessment cost?

A: Estimates will vary as they are project dependent. A standard full day of fieldwork, with reporting costs, is about $6,200 ($3,700 for fieldwork, $2,500 for reporting) — but actual costs can widely fluctuate dependent on time in the field and the presence of archaeological materials.

Project Managers should budget for an extra 1-2 days of fieldwork in the event that archaeological resources are encountered. Archaeologists are required to intensify fieldwork practices in the event archaeological resources are found, as per the 2011 Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists.

It is important to note that if archaeological resources are found, reporting costs may also increase depending on the number of artifacts and archaeological sites discovered due to additional required reporting elements and necessary staff time for artifact processing, analysis, and accessioning.

 

 

Q: What projects are exempt?

A: Archaeology will always review projects for exemptions, which include areas where archaeological potential has been defensibly removed due to deep and extensive land alterations (such as quarrying, major landscaping involving grading well below topsoil, construction of building foundations, and infrastructure development), or has been previously assessed for archaeology and been deemed free of further archaeological concern.

Please note that parking lots or land that has been capped or covered in other ways (such as gravel) is often intact below an asphalt cover. Because the asphalt only covers the surface of the land, it is not considered “deeply disturbed” and often retains archaeological potential. The Archaeology Supervisor responsible for Field Projects will be able to determine if there is further potential below the surface, requiring an assessment, or if there is low or no potential, and therefore no need for further archaeological assessment.

If you have information that indicates your project may be exempt (for example, a former landfill that is now overgrown), please contact the Archaeology Supervisor responsible for Field Projects.

 

 

Q: How do I request an archaeological assessment?

A: You can submit a request for an archaeological assessment through the Archaeological Assessment Request application in the Lotus Notes Workspace.

A draft application can be started and saved until you are ready to formally submit the request.

 

 

Q: I have submitted my request, now what happens?

A: Once an application has been received, the request will be reviewed to determine if an archaeological assessment is required.

If no archaeological assessment is required, the request will be closed citing “No Concerns” and the application will be returned with the results of the review and the reasons for no archaeological concerns to the Project Manager for their project records.

If an archaeological assessment is required, a proposed estimate for the archaeological assessment will be provided to the Project Manager.

Once the estimate has been accepted, the archaeology team will schedule the fieldwork during the field season (April-December). Upon completion of all fieldwork, the licensed archaeologist will notify the Project Manager of the results of the assessment. A map confirming the extent of the completed archaeological survey will be provided to ensure that all areas where proposed land disturbances will occur have been assessed.

Additionally, if an archaeological site was discovered during the assessment the licensed archaeologist will outline the preferred options for long term avoidance and protection of the site.

 

 

Q: My project scope has changed but I have already submitted my application, what do I do?

A: If there are changes to the scope of work, please notify Archaeology as soon as possible and provide details about the respective changes via email. If there are extensive changes, a new estimate may be necessary to carry out the new scope of work.

 

 

Q: What sites require further assessment?

A: TRCA Archaeology follows the criteria set out in the 2011 Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists, as well as professional judgement to determine which sites require further archaeological assessment.

 

 

Q: What is a 20-metre protective zone and 50-metre monitoring zone?

A: For archaeological sites that require further Stage 3 (and possibly Stage 4) archaeological assessment, a 20-metre protective zone and an additional 50-metre monitoring zone is established around the sites (for a total of 70-metres) to ensure that these sites are not negatively impacted from future development. It is recommended that any proposed work occur beyond these buffer zones to avoid and protect sites.

If all measures to avoid and protect a site have been exhausted and development is to occur within these buffer zones, the following steps must be undertaken:

  1. Stage 2 archaeological assessment must have been completed within the entirety of the project area.
  2. Any development work proposed within the 20-metre protective zone requires Stage 3 archaeological assessment. The Stage 3 assessment will determine whether further Stage 4 mitigation is required for this portion of the site within the project area. If Stage 4 mitigation is not required, a licensed archaeologist will monitor subsequent construction work to ensure the integrity of the remainder of the site.
  3. Any development work proposed within the 50-metre monitoring zone will require monitoring and reporting by a licensed archaeologist to ensure the integrity of the 20-metre protective zone, as well as observe for evidence of any additional archaeological resources.

The licensed archaeologist is empowered to stop construction within the buffer zones if there is a concern for impact to an archaeological site.

 

 

Q: Why can’t you do the archaeological fieldwork from January to March?

A: Archaeological fieldwork requires optimal field conditions that will not inhibit the ability to identify and recover archaeological resources. Therefore, a typical archaeological field season takes place between April to December. Weather permitting; the field season may extend beyond these months.

Archaeological fieldwork cannot be undertaken in adverse weather and lighting conditions (such as excessive rain or drought, heavy fog, etc.) and winter conditions (such as snow cover, frozen ground and altered drainage). As such, it is highly discouraged to wait until November or December to request fieldwork, as there is an increased risk that the environmental conditions during these months will not meet provincial standards for archaeological fieldwork and must wait until the spring of the next year.

For example: A dusting of snow is OK; 10 cm is not.

Generally, archaeological fieldwork is not permitted from January to March, with the exception of monitoring works and special permission cases. Permission to conduct winter archaeology must be obtained by the MTCS and is subject to more stringent and costly conditions for mitigation.

 

 

Q: How long does it take for the archaeological report to be completed?

A: A typical Stage 1-2 report requires a minimum of 20 business days to write and submit to the MTCS for review. If you require an expedited report or wish to review the report prior to submission to the MTCS, please note this within the application (if known beforehand) or email your request to the assigned Field Director.

Given seasonal constraints for conducting archaeological fieldwork, please note that fieldwork is prioritized during April through December. While reporting components are tackled throughout the year, it is common for the majority of reporting to be completed during the winter months.

 

 

Q: How long does it take to get a review letter from the MTCS?

A: Once a report package is submitted to the MTCS, it undergoes a screening process to ensure the package is complete and accurate; this process may take up to 10 business days.

When the report package passes the screening, it is then considered “filed” and may take approximately 6 to 8 weeks for report to be reviewed.

If the project is facing an impending deadline, a request for an expedited review of a report may be submitted with the report package. The MTCS states that it may take up to five days for the ministry to grant the request for an expedited review, and depending on the volume of requests, a minimum of 20 business days for the report review itself.

If the MTCS has no further concerns, the report will be accepted into the Ontario Public Register of Archaeological Reports. However, if the MTCS has further concerns, a review letter will be issued. A revised report must be submitted to address any remaining cultural concerns to the project. It is possible that additional archaeological fieldwork may be required.

As TRCA is its own approval authority, it is not necessary to wait for the review letter from the MTCS. Confirmation in writing that all archaeological concerns have been satisfied by TRCA Archaeology will suffice. A copy of the final, accepted report will be sent to Project Managers.

 

 

Q: I have some more questions about archaeological fieldwork, who do I contact?

A: Please contact the Archaeology Supervisor, Alistair Jolly at ext. 6405 or 416-771-2004

 

 

TERMINOLOGY

Cultural heritage value or interest: Where analysis of documented artifacts and physical features at a given location meets the criteria stated in the 2011 Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists, that location is protected as an archaeological site under the Ontario Heritage Act and its regulations, and further archaeological assessment may be required

No archaeological concerns: Where a TRCA Archaeologist has confirmed in writing the absence of archaeological potential or archaeological resources within a given property; or that an identified archaeological resource does not require further archaeological assessment.