Heritage Conservation Act (HCA)
Archaeological sites are physical evidence of how and where people lived in the past.
Under the provincial Heritage Conservation Act, archaeological sites on both public and private land are protected. This includes recorded sites and sites that have not yet been recorded.
Heritage Conservation Act protections apply even if a site has been disturbed in the past. Construction, renovations, and landscaping can damage and destroy an archaeological site.
Property owners and developers have a legal responsibility to ensure archaeological sites are not disturbed without appropriate permits in place.
Archaeology permits in Lytton
After the 2021 fire, the Archaeology Branch of the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations, and Rural Development issued two Village-wide permits to protect sensitive archaeological resources and promote compliance with the Heritage Conservation Act in Lytton.
The archaeology permits include the following:
- a Heritage Investigation Permit to support all types of archaeological assessments that may be required for demolition or reconstruction within the Village
- an alteration permit to authorize the alterations of sites through the removal of contaminated sediments. Alteration permits can be revised and amended to allow for different activities as needed
Archaeology guidance for rebuilding
Management Direction Letters
The Archaeology Branch provided Management Direction Letters for private property owners in Lytton to:
- Indicate the risk that development will impact protected sites
- Provide steps for property owners to take
As a property owner, you need your Management Direction Letter before placing geotechnical test holes or excavating on your property.
If you have not received your Management Direction Letter, email LyttonHCA@gov.bc.ca. Provide your civic address and (if known) your Property Identifier Number (PID).
Categories and requirements
Preliminary archaeological work in Lytton recorded archaeological sites within the Village reflecting over 7,000 years of occupation.
Based on this work, the Archaeology Branch classified each lot in the Village into one of seven categories. Each category has specific requirements.
Read the handout provided by the Archaeology Branch describing the requirements of each category and options available to owners to ensure compliance with the Heritage Conservation Act. You can also contact the Archaeology Branch to receive the category handout for your property.
General guidelines
Recorded archaeological site
If there is a recorded archaeological site on your property you will need to:
- Get a Heritage Conservation Act permit. You can:
- Complete a Schedule A document to be added to the Village of Lytton’s permits, or
- Apply for your own Heritage Conservation Act permit. The application process can result in additional costs and the time to get a permit varies. Currently it is 7 to 8 months.
- Hire a delegated archaeologist to review your development plan, prepare an archaeological work plan, and submit documents to the Archaeology Branch.
No known archaeological sites
For properties without known archaeological sites, archaeological work and a Heritage Conservation Act permit are not required. Proceeding without consulting a delegated archaeologist, however, is a risk.
You can hire a delegated archaeologist to review development plans, provide guidance, determine the risk of impacts, and develop an archaeological work plan.
In the event of unexpected archaeological discoveries, follow the Chance Find Procedure.
Follow guidelines for construction to minimize impacts to archaeological sites
Archaeology information request
To get archaeological information about your property, you can submit a BC Archaeological Information Request Form.
Chance Finds Procedure
The Archaeology Branch has provided information related to the Chance Finds Procedure for archaeological artifacts and ancestral human remains.
This answers the question “What should I do if I find potential archaeological artifacts or ancestral human remains?” during rebuilding.
Download the Chance Finds Procedure Brochure
Delegated archaeologists
There are three delegated archaeologists for the Village of Lytton. Here is their contact information:
-
Michael Elvidge, Registered Professional Consulting Archaeologist
melvidge@cabinworks.ca -
Joanne Hammond, Consulting archaeologist and anthropologist
hammondjoannee@gmail.com
778-257-1681 -
A.E.W. Limited Partnership (AEW)
aewlp@nntc.ca
Questions
If you have any questions about archaeological requirements for your property, contact the provincial Archaeology Branch:
LyttonHCA@gov.bc.ca
250-953-3334
Village of Lytton Archaeology Grant Program
The Village of Lytton is offering a grant of up to $5,000 for property owners for eligible archaeology costs. The application deadline has been extended to June 30, 2025.