City Looks to Public for Info on Possible Archaeological Sites
Prince George, B.C.- When there is earth to be moved for a construction project, all work must stop if that digging turns up something of archaeological significance.
The City of Prince George is developing a data base that will identify areas which are either known to have archaeological significance, or which may hold artifacts from the past, the project is called “Protecting the Past”.
Tonight, at the Prince George Public Library, the City ( working with Norcan Consulting) is inviting the public to an evening event to help pin point such sites. Andrea Byrne is the Environmental Assistant with the City of Prince George,”We are hoping to get information on any undocumented archaeological sites, there may be some amateur archaeologists out there who may have found some pieces of archeological remnant, so by sharing their information with us, it will help us develop an archaeological risk framework tool.”
The “tool” will be an overview of known and possible sites which may have archaeological significance. As was the case when the Simon Fraser Bridge was being twinned, the discovery of archaeological finds can put a project on hold until the recovery of items is complete. Byrne says identifying such site locations will be valuable when planning projects “If we know where these sites are early, we can think of alternatives or get the proper permits in place.”
The work will also preserve any potential sites in the City Limits. “The City has no authority over archaeological resources, its regulated by the Province, so the City would just act as a middle person in the development referral process saying they ( a developer) would need to an archaeologist or the archaeology branch( of the Province).”
Primarily, the City is interested in hearing about potential sites that relate to the Lheidli T’enneh prior to the arrival of settlers. Chief Dominic Frederick is pleased the City is taking the initiative ” These sites are extremely important to Lheidli T’enneh and require the appropriate protection as laid out by the provincial archaeology branch.”
This evening’s session runs from 7 till 9 in the Bob Harkins room at the Prince George Public Library.
Comments
Do not report any sites on your own property. As a cabin owner at Cluculz lake I know firsthand the nightmare of your property being declared an archaeological site. You no longer have any property rights and basically lose most of your property value.
Yup, just keep on digging, that is what I and probably most people would do unless it is a human skull or something obviously human.
Like Ralph Klein said to ranchers in Alberta about the mad cow scare a few years back. Shoot, shovel and shut up.
Canadians can hold land in fee simple but technically, the Crown still owns the land, you have the right to use it and live on it, sell it or trade it but you don’t own it.
how about the tennis court near the museum, heard rumors that is where the mass grave yard was, when we gave the first nation people small pox at the turn of the last century.
“Primarily, the City is interested in hearing about potential sites that relate to the Lheidli T’enneh prior to the arrival of settlers.”
So I wonder why they don’t ask the Lheidli T’enneh about where those sites are? Surely they must know.
There is a mass grave in the park near 17th Ave. You should notice an area that is still left in a nature state.
“when we gave the first nation people small pox at the turn of the last century.” We?
That’s what Libs do, they never let go of the past and throw it on every generation that follows, force feeding them a bigger lie as the years go by.
Never, ever report something you find, as others have mentioned. You will lose all your rights, your plans, all over an arrowhead or bird feather.
It’s true that the discovery of an archaeological site on your property can be disruptive, but that isn’t true in most cases. As anyone familiar with forestry work knows, most of the time the site is a cache pit or some debitage (debris from making stone tools) and what happens is that an archaeologist comes, takes some measurements and notes and photographs, and that is that. This is done all the time in areas being logged. It is only in the rare case of discovery of something pretty major that there is likely to be any interference with the owner’s use of the site. The discovery of human remains can be problematic, but in this area the discovery of pre-contact human remains is uncommon because the traditional Carrier practice was cremation, which just left some ash and bone fragments.
“Just keep on diggin”… why am I not surprised?
Don’t worry Jgalt I would definitely take the time to shovel all the dirt back in if you where in the hole
The following information is only for people that care:
Office Location and Contacts
Mailing Address:
Archaeology Branch
Ministry of Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations
PO Box 9816
Stn Prov Govt
Victoria BC, V8W 9W3
Location:
#3 – 1250 Quadra Street,
Victoria, BC V8W 2K7
*Appointments preferred for office visits; please call reception*
Reception & General Inquiries: (250) 953-3334
Fax Number: (250) 953-3340
Branch Email: ARCWEBFEEDBACK@gov.bc.ca
Note: staff email addresses can be obtained by clicking on the links below:
Management Contacts:
Justine Batten, Director 250-953-3355
Steven Acheson, Manager 250-953-3306
Paula Thorogood, Supervisor -Permitting and Assessment 250-953-3300
Cynthia Lake, Supervisor – Archaeological Site Inventory 250-953-3301
Media Contact:
Greig Bethel 250-356-5261
This link is only for those that care, it is a link to the Ministry of Forests Archaeology Office. I repeat, this information is only for people that actually care!
.for.gov.bc.ca/archaeology/contacts.htm
I didn’t mention, if you happen to find an arrowhead, stone scraper or any other artifact that could have been an ancient tool or weapon of any sort and you want to keep it for a collection or souvenir, don’t mention it to anyone or the government will come knockin’ for it.
Just a small step away from finding someone’s wallet or purse with a wad of cash in it. No need to take it to the police, “finders keepers” right? *shakes head*
No JGalt, it doesn’t mean that at all. I have and do, go well out of my way to return anything I have found to the rightful owner, if he or she can be identified or even if I think I know who lost it.
People from many parts of the world have visited this continent in the past, so it doesn’t mean that every artifact found must be of native origin.
It certainly wasn’t the natives who tunneled in the bedrock up in the Germansen area or who piled up the stone banks on some creeks there. The artifacts left behind certainly weren’t native and it wasn’t the natives who took the gold out either.
Do the natives of the area have any of this history in their memories? Not that I have ever heard.
If it wasn’t for the white man researching, digging and finding native artifacts, I think the natives would be far less sure of their past and wouldn’t have the artifacts to prove it either. They have helped identify some artifacts for me but never asked me to hand them over to them either. So even they, are not laying claim to “their” artifacts.
So for the government to stop a person from using the land they paid for because some archaeologist identifies an artifact as ‘of native origin’, I don’t think is right. They should pay the owner what they paid for the land and preserve it.
I also don’t believe its right for the government to try to confiscate any collections of native artifacts from private collectors. It wasn’t the government who went out and found these things or bought them.
So, so much for your ‘finders keepers’ thought. Maybe try keeping statements like that to yourself.
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