Archaeology Management Plan

Did You Know? Discover Archaeology in Brant

• 1,400+ Sites

  by engage.brant, 1 day ago

  Did you know more than 1,400 registered archaeological sites have been identified across Brant?

  These registered archaeological sites are officially documented locations that contain physical evidence of past human activity.

  These sites help tell the story of the people who have lived on these lands over thousands of years and highlight why archaeological resources need to be understood and protected.

  How do I know if my property is a registered archeological site?

  The Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism maintains the official database of registered archaeological sites. Site locations are generally kept confidential to protect artifacts from theft or damage.

  ... Continue reading

  Did you know more than 1,400 registered archaeological sites have been identified across Brant?

  These registered archaeological sites are officially documented locations that contain physical evidence of past human activity.

  These sites help tell the story of the people who have lived on these lands over thousands of years and highlight why archaeological resources need to be understood and protected.

  How do I know if my property is a registered archeological site?

  The Ontario Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism maintains the official database of registered archaeological sites. Site locations are generally kept confidential to protect artifacts from theft or damage.

  A licensed archaeologist can check whether your property contains a registered site. For most property owners, this information is only needed if an archaeological assessment is required.

  The Archaeological Management Plan will not show the locations of registered sites. Instead, it will include a map of areas where archaeological resources may be present. Even if your property does not contain a registered site, undiscovered archaeological artifacts may still be present.

• What is archeology and what does it mean to have archaeological potential?

  by engage.brant, 1 day ago
  

  Archaeology is the study of how people lived in the past by examining the physical evidence they left behind, such as tools, pottery, structures and cultural landscapes.

  Archaeological potential refers to the possibility that archaeological resources, such as artifacts or archaeological sites, may be present in an area. This does not mean that archaeological resources have already been found or are necessarily present. Archaeological resources can also sometimes be discovered in areas that were not previously identified as having archaeological potential.

  We can assess the land, its location, and existing information to identify areas with archaeological potential. Key indicators include:

  • ... Continue reading

  Archaeology is the study of how people lived in the past by examining the physical evidence they left behind, such as tools, pottery, structures and cultural landscapes.

  Archaeological potential refers to the possibility that archaeological resources, such as artifacts or archaeological sites, may be present in an area. This does not mean that archaeological resources have already been found or are necessarily present. Archaeological resources can also sometimes be discovered in areas that were not previously identified as having archaeological potential.

  We can assess the land, its location, and existing information to identify areas with archaeological potential. Key indicators include:

  • Environmental Features: Proximity to water sources (e.g. the Grand River), distinctive topography, and fertile soils.
  • Historical Records: Local history, previous discoveries, archival documents and old maps that provide insight into past land use.
  • Disturbance Levels: If lands have been heavily altered by things like quarrying, major construction, or deep plowing they may have reduced potential because the soil integrity has been destroyed.
  • Cultural Features: The presence of, or proximity to, known cultural heritage features, historic routes, or documented areas of past occupation.

  As part of the Archaeological Management Plan, mapping will help identify areas of archaeological potential and guide when further investigation may be needed.

  Examples of archeological artifacts:

  Archaic Stone Drill (ARA Photo Library)	Steel Awl with Bone Handle (ARA Photo Library)

  
  

• 10,000+ years

  by engage.brant, 9 days ago
  

  Did you know the lands that make up Brant have a rich Indigenous history and have been home to people for more than 10,000 years?

  Understanding this history is an important part of developing the County of Brant’s first Archaeological Management Plan (AMP).

  For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have lived, travelled, traded, and cared for the lands we now call Brant. Before European contact:

  • 10,000-7,500 BC First Peoples in the Region: This period is the earliest known evidence of people living in southern Ontario dates. Small groups of Indigenous peoples moved throughout the region, relying on communal hunting and... Continue reading

  Did you know the lands that make up Brant have a rich Indigenous history and have been home to people for more than 10,000 years?

  Understanding this history is an important part of developing the County of Brant’s first Archaeological Management Plan (AMP).

  For thousands of years, Indigenous peoples have lived, travelled, traded, and cared for the lands we now call Brant. Before European contact:

  • 10,000-7,500 BC First Peoples in the Region: This period is the earliest known evidence of people living in southern Ontario dates. Small groups of Indigenous peoples moved throughout the region, relying on communal hunting and gathering.
  • 7,500-6,000 BC Growing Communities: As the climate warmed and resource-rich forests grew, Indigenous peoples developed new technologies, including stone and copper tools. Populations grew, and trade networks connected communities.
  • 900 BC - 600 AD Innovation and Trade: This period saw the introduction of pottery, which improved food storage and preparation. Hunting, fishing, and gathering remained the main sources of food, while communities grew larger and trade became more widespread. During this period, the first evidence of corn cultivation appeared in southern Ontario, particularly along the Grand River.
  • 900 – 1,600 AD Farming and Village Life: Agriculture became central to daily life, with maize, beans, and squash, known as the "Three Sisters," supporting larger and more permanent villages. Major villages developed throughout southern Ontario, including the Lower Grand River Cluster near present-day Brant County. By the late 1500s, expanding fur trade networks brought increasing contact with Europeans.

  The story of the County of Brant did not begin 200 years ago. Indigenous peoples continue to live here, maintain deep relationships to the land, and contribute to the community today. As the County develops the Archaeological Management Plan, it is helping put its Land Acknowledgement into practice by recognizing and protecting long-standing Indigenous cultural heritage in the past, present and future.

  Image by the Royal Ontario Museum