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Archaeological Assessments

Detritus Consulting conducts Stage 1 through 4 archaeological assessments in advance of residential and commercial developments, which are subject to Planning Act approvals, as well as infrastructure projects subject to Environmental Assessment Act approvals.

Detritus conducts all assessments in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists, governed by the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Cultural Industries.

Stage 1 assessments are primarily desktop studies consisting of a historical background and archival search of all known historical, environmental, and archaeological data for the subject property. The information gathered in this search is used to determine the archaeological potential of the study property. Stage 1 assessments often include a site visit to assist in ascertaining the archaeological potential of the Study Area.

Stage 2 assessments are property surveys conducted through systemic means appropriate to the characteristics of the property and in accordance with the Standards and Guidelines for Consultant Archaeologists. Recent or active cultivated fields, arable land, and feasible open areas must be ploughed and suitably weathered before conducting a Pedestrian Survey. Pedestrian Surveys are conducted by systematically walking 5 m transects to permit recovery of cultural material on the surface of the soil. Urban settings, and areas that are inaccessible for ploughing are subject to Test Pit Survey. Test Pit Surveys are conducted digging 30-40cm wide test pits at 5m transect intervals over the entire assessment property and examining the pits contents.

If archaeological resources of significant cultural value are encountered within a Stage 2 assessment a Stage 3 Site-Specific Assessment must be conducted for all archaeological sites found on a property. The purpose of Stage 3 Site Specific Assessment is to assess the cultural heritage value or interest of each archaeological site identified by the Stage 2 assessment. The Stage 3 further determines whether the site has been sufficiently documented or if further archaeological measures are required to protect or document the site.

The purpose of Stage 4 Site Mitigation is to address the development impacts on an archaeological site with a level of cultural heritage value or interest which has been determined to require mitigation though Stage 3 Site Specific Assessment. There are two approaches to site mitigation, the first being avoidance and protection of the site through project redesign or green space and parkland. Avoidance and protection is the Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Cultural Industries and Detritus’s preferred option. However, avoidance is not always a feasible action, and, in this case, full excavation of the archaeological site is the second option. Detritus will excavate the entire archaeological site with the goal of full documenting and removing all archaeological features.

Archaeological assessment dig site in Niagara, Ontario.

Cultural heritage assessment in Ontario, Canada.

Cultural Heritage Assessments

In Ontario provincial legislation requires that cultural heritage be considered when developments and property alterations are considered.

Detritus Consulting provides a full range of Cultural Heritage Assessment services including, Cultural Heritage Evaluation Reports, Heritage Impact Assessments, Built Heritage Assessments, and Cultural Heritage Landscape Evaluations.

The Ministry of Heritage, Sport, Tourism, and Cultural Industries has developed the Ontario Heritage Tool Kit (gov.on.ca) to assist in understanding the legislation and tools available for the conservation of cultural heritage resources.

Cultural heritage landscapes are geographical areas that have been modified by human activity over time and may include a grouping of built heritage components. There are three types of cultural heritage landscapes which include, clearly defined landscapes, organically evolved landscapes, and associative landscapes. Defined landscapes include gardens, parks, and cemeteries which were designed for aesthetic or economic reasons. Organically evolved landscapes result form a long-term relationship between human activity and the natural environment. Associative cultural landscapes include those which may have no evidence of cultural activity, but the natural features are known to have spiritual, artistic, or other cultural significance. These landscapes combined with built heritage and the impacts from proposed development form a CHLE and result in mitigation or development change recommendations.

Maritime Archaeological Assessments

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, a “marine archaeological site” is an archaeological site that is fully or partially submerged or that lies below or partially below the high-water mark of any body of water. (O. Reg. 170/04, s. 1.).

Marine archaeological assessments may be required to supplement or in addition to terrestrial archaeological assessment.

Detritus can conduct marine archaeological assessments to identify and evaluate the presence of marine archaeological resources and outline measures to mitigate the impact of development on these resources.

Maritime archaeological assessment in Southern Ontario.

Heritage Management

To manage and mitigate known or potential archaeological resources proponents, municipalities and approval authorities can utilize several heritage management options including archaeological management plans and strategic conservation plans.

Detritus consulting can develop archaeological management plans to ensure that concerns for archaeological resources are identified and mitigated early in the development process.

While strategic conservation plans can target specific properties with cultural heritage value even within an archaeological management plan for the long-term protection of cultural heritage resources.

Cemetery Services

Detritus specializes in the identification of cemetery limits, exploratory excavation, and documentation, recovery, and relocation of human remains from known and undocumented cemeteries.

Detritus consults with surviving next-of-kin, and relevant government and non-government agencies, conducting all work with respect while following the Funeral, Burial and Cremations Services Act. Cemetery and burial investigations are unique, and Detritus will work to provide specialized service for each investigation.