Bengal Lancers new riding paddock : archaeological resource impact assessment

Abstract

Davis Archaeological Consultants Limited was contracted by CBCL Limited Consulting Engineers to conduct an archaeological resource impact assessment of the Bengal Lancers New Riding Paddock in Halifax in May 2006. The purpose of the assessment was to monitor the mechanical excavation of those areas believed to be of archaeological potential. A previous assessment by Powell (2003) indicated that the southwest end of this area was the site of a late nineteenth century city dump which may have extended throughout the current development zone. During the current archaeological assessment, a deposit of late nineteenth century refuse was encountered throughout the development area but appeared to be heavily disturbed. The primary deposit was located through an archaeological test pit to the north of the temporary riding paddock but proved to be located below the level of excavation warranted for this development and, therefore, was not disturbed with the exception of this test pit. A sample of artifacts was collected from the secondary deposit and catalogued in the Nova Scotia Museum's Museum Information Management System (MIMSLite) (Appendix C). A late nineteenth or early twentieth century concrete foundation was also encountered on the west side of the stables which extends beneath the temporary riding paddock through to the Nova Scotia Museum of Natural History parking lot. Due to the recent origin of this structure, it is not believed to be of elevated archaeological significance.