Thursday, June 13, 2024

At a glance (2 minute read)

  • The BC Ministry of Forests, Archeology Branch released a guide to help property owners and developers avoid damaging archaeological artifacts and sites during construction or landscaping.
  • BC has over 62,000 known archaeological sites, mostly of First Nations origin, detailed in the provincial RAAD database, accessible to authorized users.
  • Property owners must report suspected archaeological discoveries to the Archaeology Branch and disclose any known sites or heritage designations on their property. The new guide provides information on RAAD and reporting procedures.

During construction, renovation, or landscaping, property owners or developers may occasionally come across what could be archaeological artifacts, sites, and even human remains.

The BC Ministry of Forests, BC Archaeology Branch has prepared this new guide to help ensure property owners and developers don’t accidentally damage or destroy archaeological items or sites. 

Provincial database

Province-wide, there are more than 62,000 known archaeological sites. Approximately 90 per cent of the sites are of First Nations origin. 

This information is found in a provincial database, an inventory of archaeological sites that is available through Remote Access to Archaeological Data (RAAD), an online GIS application.

RAAD lets authorized users view and download spatial and tabular data about B.C.'s archaeological sites for the purposes of land use planning, development approval processes, or archaeological assessments and studies.

The database is available to archaeological consultants, First Nations, researchers, and federal, provincial, or local government planning agencies.

Property owners and developers can request access using the request archaeological information page or they can contact the BC Association of Professional Archaeologists (BCAPA) at admin@bcapa.ca to perform expedited data requests for a fee.

Examples of archaeological sites

  • Remains of ancient villages and cemeteries.
  • Hunting and processing.
  • Stone tool manufacturing areas.
  • Culturally modified trees.
  • Ancient rock art.
  • Shell middens.

Disclosure

The ministry requires property owners who think they may have discovered an archaeological site to report it as soon as possible to the BC Archaeology Branch at 250-953-3334.

Property owners must disclose whether there is an archaeological site or a heritage designation on their property.

Read the new guide, “Archaeology in British Columbia: A guide for property owners and developers.” (Opens 4-page pdf). The guide includes information on RAAD.

For information contact email archaeology@gov.bc.ca or Harriet Permut, Director, Government Relations at hpermut@gvrealtors.ca.