Stage 1 Archaeological Assessment

To make sure that every archaeological impact assessment is carried out to the letter, the Ontario Ministry of Tourism and Culture has set out a number of regulations and comprehensive expectations for archaeological services to adhere to. This guarantees uniformity across the board, is through enough for the reliable discovery of historically significant artifacts and remains, and makes sure that those who are hiring the archaeological assessors know what to expect from their team. At Toronto Archaeological Consulting, we’re well-versed in all matters relating to archaeological assessments, and as such, more than capable of both carrying out these assessments, and telling you about them. Below, you can discover plenty of information relating to Stage 1 of the archaeological assessment process – and why we’re the team that you should place your trust in for this procedure more generally. For any lingering doubts or questions, refer to our customer service representatives over the phone or online.

Understanding Stage 1

So, what exactly is Stage 1 of the archaeological impact assessment process, and how does it work? In simple terms, Stage 1 refers to the background study and optional property inspection of the site. The sole objective of this part of the process is to determine the land use and any existing archaeological history relating to the space being investigated. Once this information is dug up, so to speak, it’ll then be contextualised in the present condition of the area. The bottom line here is that we’re aiming to find out if the study area has any existing or potential significance for archaeological resources.

Desk Work

The majority of any work carried out during Stage 1 takes place at a desk. We need to access extensive records and databases to ensure that we have comprehensively uncovered every speck of information relating to the land that you’re planning on developing. Our team has considerable experience with this type of work, so you can rest easy knowing that we’ll leave no stone unturned. Of course, there are specific circumstances, when something is found, where Stage 1 requires some on-site expertise.

Property Inspection

Unless it turns out that a property has absolutely no chance of any archaeological significance, a Stage 2 property assessment becomes mandatory. Even then, it’s possible that some parts of the property that is being examined will be archaeologically insignificant, but before we can eliminate these spaces from the next stage of the study, a property inspection will need to take place. By visiting the property and carrying out our assessments, we can conclusively determine whether or not these spaces could be home to anything archaeologically relevant.

Joint Stage Studies

As the Stage 1 and Stage 2 (Property Assessment) are so closely related in most situations, many people opt to have Stage 1 and Stage 2 archaeological assessments carried out at the same time. This saves on both expenses and time, although there are specific situations where it might be prudent only to move ahead with a Stage 1 assessment. At Toronto Archaeological Consulting, we’re happy to help you with either request.