Archaeology | Niagara Region

Niagara's archaeological sites preserve 13,000 years of human history—from Indigenous hunting camps and villages to pioneer homes, battlefields and shipwrecks. These fragile, non-renewable resources tell the story of Niagara's past through physical evidence that would otherwise be lost forever.

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Planning a development

Property owners and developers may need an archaeological assessment before submitting planning applications.

Accidental discovery

Found artifacts, evidence of past settlement or human remains on your property? Help protect these resources.

Niagara's history

Explore archaeological maps, management plans and resources that document Niagara's rich settlement history spanning thousands of years.

Archaeological assessments for development projects

Before approving a project that requires an application under the Planning Act, the local municipality or Niagara Region may require an archaeological assessment of the land involved in the project.

When an assessment is required

An archaeological assessment will be needed if your property meets all three conditions:

Location: Property is in an area of archaeological potential (check the Archaeological Potential Map)
Impact: Proposed development could affect archaeological resources
Application: Planning application(s) are needed (if only a building permit is required, no archaeological review is needed)

Assessments must be completed by a licensed archaeologist before submitting planning applications if your proposed development may impact archaeological resources.

Finding a licensed archaeologist

Under the Ontario Heritage Act, only licensed professionals can conduct archaeological assessments. The Association of Professional Archaeologists of Ontario maintains a list of practising archaeologists.

Like other consulting firms, archaeologists bid on jobs. We recommend contacting multiple firms to compare costs and timelines.

Costs

Vary based on property size and assessment level required. Property owners are responsible for all costs. However, prompt action can prevent delays and minimize impacts to archaeological sites, reducing overall project costs.

Timeline

Some assessments can be completed within weeks. However, certain field survey methods (like walking ploughed fields) can only be done at specific times of year. Contact your local municipal planning department early in the development approval process.

Assessment process overview

Archaeological assessments follow standards and guidelines set by the Province and typically progress through four stages.

Stage 1: Background study and optional property inspection

The licensed archaeologist visits the property and reviews:

Previous archaeological assessments in the area
Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism site database
Geographic, land use and historical information

If areas of archaeological potential are found, a Stage 2 assessment is required.

Stage 2: Property assessment

The licensed archaeologist surveys the land for archaeological resources using pedestrian surveys, test pits and / or other archaeological strategies.

If archaeological sites of sufficient cultural heritage value or interest are found, a Stage 3 assessment is required.

Stage 3: Site specific assessment

The consultant archaeologist:

Conducts further property research and excavations
Determines the size of the site
Determines the degree of cultural heritage value or interest

This information informs Stage 4 recommendations.

Stage 4: Mitigation of development impacts

Conservation strategies recommended by the consultant archaeologist are implemented.

Long-term protection and avoidance at the location is always preferred. If not possible, the site can be documented and removed through excavation.

What to do if you discover archaeological resources

Archaeological resources or human remains are sometimes discovered accidentally during construction, landscaping or other property work. If this happens, immediate action is required by law.

Found something on your property? Stop work immediately.

If you think you have discovered an archaeological site, artifacts or human remains:

Stop all work on the property immediately
Secure the area to prevent further disturbance
Contact Growth Management and Planning
Arrange for a qualified archaeologist to investigate the findings

Why immediate action matters

What we learn from an archaeological site isn't just from the objects we find, but from where they were found and their relationship to one another. If the area is destroyed or disturbed, we lose this important information forever—even if we still have the artifacts.

Legal requirement: This process applies even if your project did not require a planning application. Disturbing sites without a licence is illegal under the Ontario Heritage Act and could result in significant fines.

For detailed procedures, see Appendix C (Contingency Plan for Accidental Discoveries) in the Archaeological Management Plan.

Niagara's archaeological heritage

Niagara has a rich and valuable archaeological record formed from approximately 13,000 years of human settlement activity. The archaeological sites and resources in Niagara are the physical remains of our settlement history and cannot be replaced.

Why archaeology matters

Archaeological resources provide fragile, non-renewable records that offer important environmental, economic and social benefits. They provide information about past cultures that would otherwise be unavailable due to no written record.

In Ontario, archaeological sites can include Indigenous hunting camps and villages, battlefields, pioneer homes, burial grounds and cemeteries, shipwrecks, or other evidence of past human activity.

Niagara Region recognizes the importance of conserving archaeological resources and the potential to commemorate significant archaeological discoveries in recognition of their contribution to Niagara's unique community identity.