Abstract

AOA projects are initiated by the Forest sector and large scale Provincial strategic planning. AOAs are used as 'management tools' to direct us towards further archaeological studies such as inventory studies, CMT inventories or impact assessments. One of the problems with the current practice of conducting AOA mapping in the province is that it is usually based on archaeological predictive modelling and was never intended to constitute the final product. The challenge confronting us is how to incorporate new information derived from other archaeological studies into the AOA mapping process and how to ensure Ministry of Forests (MoF) and forest companies can use this information to inform their management decisions. Currently Archaeological Impact Assessments (AIAs) are being conducted throughout the Province at an accelerated rate primarily because of the Forest Practices Code and amended Heritage Conservation Act, but no work is being done to incorporate the results of AIAs (both positive and negative) into existing AOAs. Any attempt to resolve this dilemma must balance the theoretical requirements of potential mapping refinement with higher level planning and the day to day needs of both archaeologists and forest managers. A proposed solution must be both practical from a management perspective while still providing accurate and useful data. One such solution proposed is a provincial tracking system to identify archaeological findings based on the AIA and inventory work that is generated as the result of these studies. Such a tracking system has advantages and disadvantages when examined in regard to province wide implementation. Any potential solution must be judged in light of its intrinsic applicability to the issue of potential mapping veracity and the current conditions affecting forest and cultural resource management in BC.