Phase II : Jefferson Property, Fall River : archaeological resource impact assessment

Abstract

File consists of two copies of an archaeological resource impact assessment follow up study on the Jefferson Property site in Fall River, conducted for the Halifax Regional Municipality .

In December 2004, Davis Archaeological Consultants Limited conducted a phase II archaeological resource impact assessment (subsurface testing) of the Jefferson Property in Fall River under contract to Halifax Regional Municipality and in accordance with Heritage Research Permit A2004NS90. Although development plans had not been finalized at the time of the assessment, the property has been proposed as the site of a new recreational facility and fire station to be constructed in 2005. The purpose of this assessment was to evaluate the physical integrity and cultural and archaeological significance of features identified during a previous assessment conducted by DAC in October 2004, to determine if any additional subsurface features were present in the development area, and to provide recommendations for further mitigation of those resources based on the findings of this assessment. A total of 56 formal 50 cm by 50 cm test units were excavated at five metre intervals in a grid encompassing the house, well, and barn, and their immediate surroundings. Testing was conducted by a crew of three to seven qualified archaeologists over four days between 2- 6 December 2004 with monitoring of geotechnical testing by DAC's senior technician taking place on 1 December 2004. This report is a detailed account of the extent of the study area, the subsurface testing conducted within that area, the resources encountered and an analysis of them, an evaluation of the research strategy, and recommendations for further mitigation.