Site Survey Methodology :

The site inventory was carried out over a period of one month during which two surveys were conducted. Each survey lasted for three days, for a total of six days. The crew for each survey consisted of two people. The objective was to conduct as complete as possible a ground reconnaissance survey of the study area. The area surveyed totaled 11 square kilometers. On each survey the crew examined sections of this area. When possible a "zig zag" pattern was utilized to cover as much area as possible. Many areas were examined by each crew on different occasions

1) to ensure high potential areas were examined thoroughly and

2) to insure survey coverage and examine geomorphologic processes.

Surface site visibility within the study area is considered to be poor to good depending on surrounding flora and land form features. In areas deemed to be poor the main factor limiting site visibility was the dense heath community of plants. These grasses, shrubs, flowers and litter mat obscure archaeological materials (see figure 6).

Figure 6. Examples of the Heath Plant Mat Community

On areas with active erosion such as ridge tops, edges of run-off channels, along side trails and the edges of ephemeral ponds, site visibility is fair to good. It was in these fair to good contexts where sites have been found (see figure 7).

Figure 7. Example of a Sub-alpine erosion surface.

At the extreme of this is the area affected by glacial ice expansion. Rapid ice retreat left behind large areas of bare and uninhabitable rock and cinder flat sediments. Without any nearby resources and being covered by ice more than once these areas were unlikely to have archaeological remains (see figure 8).

Figure 8. Eroded surface near Rampart Ponds.

Upon identification, the extent of each site was determined by the surface scatter of artifacts and the nature of the land form it is located on. Sites were "mapped in" using a Garmin G.P.S. II plus system. In addition sites were "tied into" land forms and trails using the compass and pace method. The results were plotted on 1:50,000 and 1:25,000 scale maps (see attached site forms in appendix 1). Each site was photographed with slide film. Each site was assessed with respect to its overall heritage significance. Details of site investigations are found in section 3.0.

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Survey Results