Parks Canada Archaeological Recording Manual: Excavations and Surveys

• 1.0 Preface
• 2.0 Introduction
• 3.0 Work instruments and general requirements
• 4.0 Provenience system
• 4.1 Provenience: An overview
• 4.1.1 Provenience: Components
• 4.1.2 General Principles of Provenience Application
• 4.1.3 The Provenience System and Archaeological Resource Evaluation
• 4.2 Site number
• 4.2.1 Site Number: Definition
• 4.2.1.1 Archaeological Site: Definition
• 4.2.2 Site Number: Components
• 4.2.3 Site Number: Application
• Principles
• Values
• 4.2.4 Site Number: Assignment
• 4.2.5 Archaeological Surveys
• 4.2.6 Borden System of Site Identification
• 4.3 Operation number
• 4.3.1 Operation: Definition
• 4.3.2 Operation Number: Application
• Principle
• Values
• 4.3.3 Operation Number: Assignment
• Method
• Rules
• 4.4 The suboperation
• 4.4.1 Suboperation: Definition
• 4.4.2 Suboperation: Application
• Principle
• Values
• 4.4.3 Suboperation: Assignment
• Method
• Rules
• 4.5 The lot
• 4.5.1 Lot: Definition
• 4.5.2 Lot Number: Application
• Principles
• Values
• 4.5.3 Lot Number: Assignment
• Method
• Rules
• 4.6 Cataloguing objects in the field
• 4.6.1 Object Catalogue Number: Definition
• 4.6.2 Object Catalogue Number: Application
• Principles
• Values
• 4.6.3 Object Catalogue Number: Assignment
• Method
• Best Practice
• 4.7 Grid systems of excavation
• 4.7.1 Shipwrecks
• 4.8 Balks
• 4.9 Additional definitions
• 4.9.1 Isolated Archaeological Find
• 4.9.1.1 Isolated Archaeological Find: Definition
• 4.10 Archaeological resource
• 4.10.1 Archaeological Resource: Definition
• 4.11 Examples of provenience application
• 4.11.1 Site Number: Examples of Application
• Case A: Typical Examples of Site Numbers
• Case B: Archaeological Excavations
• Case C: Exceptional Examples
• Case D: Archaeological Surveys
• 4.11.2 Operation: Examples of Application
• Case A: Typical Examples of Operation Numbers
• Case B: Defining Culturally Meaningful Units
• Case C: Guidelines for Using and Ascribing Operations
• 4.11.3 Suboperation: Examples of Application
• Case A: Typical Examples of Suboperation Letter
• Case B: Suboperations as Analytical Units
• 4.11.4 Lot Number: Examples of Application
• Case A: Typical Examples of Lot Number
• Case B: Specific Examples of Lot Number
• Application
• Layer of Deposition
• Structural Element
• Arbitrary Level
• Stratification Interface
• Archaeological Objects and Samples
• Backhoe Trench Wall
• Borehole Tests/Core Samples
• 4.12 Data and metadata standards for provenience
• 4.12.1 Site Number
• Format
• Mandatory Associated Data and Metadata
• 4.12.2 Operation
• Format
• Mandatory Associated Data and Metadata
• 4.12.3 Suboperation
• Format
• Mandatory Associated Data and Metadata
• 4.12.4 Lot
• Format
• Mandatory Associated Data and Metadata
• 4.12.5 Object Catalogue Number
• Format
• Mandatory Associated Data and Metadata
• 4.12.6 Notes
• 5.0 Organizing field projects
• 5.1 Basic guidelines, requirements, and principles for conducting field projects
• 5.1.1 Archaeological Research Permits
• 5.1.2 Occupational Health and Safety Requirements
• 5.1.3 Key Parks Canada Documents
• 5.1.4 Human Remains, Cemeteries, and Burial Grounds
• 5.1.5 Functional Coordination
• 5.1.6 Final Agreements and Consultation with Aboriginal Groups
• 5.2 Basic principles for planning field camps
• 5.3 Basic principles for organizing field records
• 5.4 Recommended references for field projects
• 5.4.1 Basic Archaeological Field Procedures
• 5.4.2 Archaeological Surveys/Inventories
• 5.4.3 Field Conservation
• 6.0 Field notes and forms
• 6.1 Principles
• 6.2 Best practices
• 6.3 Staff field number
• 6.3.1 Staff Field Number: Components
• 6.3.1.1 Worker Area Code Letter
• 6.3.2 Assignment
• 6.4 Field notebook
• 6.4.1 Field Notebook: Guidelines
• 6.4.2 Page
• 6.4.3 Date
• 6.4.4 Cross Reference to Other Staff Field Notebooks
• 6.4.5 Provenience
• 6.4.6 Images
• 6.4.7 Drawings, Maps and Other Media
• 6.4.8 Forms
• 6.4.9 Samples
• 6.4.10 Digital File Naming Conventions
• 6.5 Summaries
• 6.5.1 Operation Summary
• 6.5.2 Suboperation Summary
• 6.5.3 Lot Summary
• 6.5.4 Structure/Area Summary
• 6.5.5 Stratigraphy (Layer/Event) Summary
• 6.6 Table of contents
• 7.0 Images
• 7.1 Principles and guidelines
• 7.2 Image cataloguing system
• 7.2.1 Image Type Code
• 7.2.2 Exposure/Record Number
• 7.2.2.1 Film Photography
• 7.2.2.2 Digital Photography
• 7.3 Image catalogue number
• 7.4 Image catalogue form: explained
• 7.4.1 Image Selection Process
• 7.4.2 Duplicate Images
• 7.4.3 Studio Images of Catalogued Archaeological Objects
• 7.5 Data standards for digital images
• Format
• Mandatory Data
• Image Preservation Standards
• Image Metadata
• 8.0 Drawings, maps, and other media
• 8.1 Principles
• 8.2 Data standards for drawings, maps and other media
• 8.2.1 Provenience
• 8.2.2 Drawing Catalogue Number
• 8.2.3 Area
• 8.2.4 Description
• 8.2.5 Scale
• 8.2.6 Date
• 8.2.7 References
• 8.2.8 Coordinates and Elevations
• 8.3 Maps
• 8.4 Other media
• 8.4.1 Media Catalogue Number
• 8.4.2 Codes for Media Records
• 8.5 Media selection process
• 8.6 Media catalogue form: explained
• 9.0 Archaeological objects: traceability from field to lab
• 9.1 Principles
• 9.2 Essential data
• Best Practices

10.0 Bibliography

11.0 Recommended reading

• 11.1 Archaeology Field Manuals (General)
• 11.2 Archaeological Surveys/Inventories
• 11.3 Osteological and Zoological Analysis
• 11.4 Soils/Stratigraphic Analysis
• 11.5 Underwater Archaeology
• 11.6 Archaeological Field Conservation
• 11.7 Miscellany
• 11.8 Parks Canada Directives
• 11.9 Parks Canada Policy and Guidelines
• 11.10 Legislation and Regulations

12.0 Abbreviations

Appendices

• Appendix A: Parks Canada Archaeological Site Inventory Form and Form Guide
• Appendix B: Image Catalogue Form and Form Guide (PDF, 317 KB)
• Appendix C: Media Catalogue Form and Form Guide (PDF, 260 KB)
• Appendix D: Suboperation Summary Form (PDF, 295 KB)
• Appendix E: Lot Summary Form and Form Guide (PDF, 262 KB)
• Appendix F: Stratigraphy Summary Form and Form Guide (PDF, 287 KB)
• Appendix G: Human Remains, Cemeteries, and Burial Grounds
• Appendix H: Digital Multimedia – Recommendations for Preservation
• Appendix I: Provenience Application – Additional Examples

Figures

• Figure 1: Example of Suboperation Letters applied to a two-metre grid
• Figure 2: Example of balks as separate Suboperations
• Figure 3: Example of balks by excavating Suboperations twice
• Figure 4: Example of Operation Number application to structures and activity areas
• Figure 5: Example of layout of Suboperation excavations
• Figure 6: Example of Field Notebook Table of Contents
• Figure 7: Example of a drawing record format (or card) for entering drawing data
• Figure 8: Archaeological Object Bag Card Example

Tables

• Table 1: List of Work Instruments and General Requirements
• Table 2: Descriptions of Cultural Resource Management (CRM) levels
• Table 3. List of alpha characters and corresponding province or territory
• Table 4: List of alpha characters that have special meanings
• Table 5: Parks Canada Service Centre responsibility areas with their corresponding characters
• Table 6: Worker Area Code letters, with corresponding areas of the country
• Table 7: Valid Image Type Codes
• Table 8: Drawing Catalogue Number Components
• Table 9: Valid Codes for Media Records, with Descriptions and Examples