Appendix H Stage 1 Archeological Report 1 of 2
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Appendix H – Stage 1 Archaeological Report McCowan Road Environmental Assessment between Steeles Avenue and Major Mackenzie Drive 24 May 2018 STAGE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT McCowan Road Class EA from Steeles Avenue to Major MacKenzie Drive, Part of Lots 1-21, Concessions 6, and Part of Lots 1-21, Concession 7, Geographic Township of Markham, former County of York, now City of Markham, Regional Municipality of York, Ontario Submitted to: Merlin Yuen HDR 100 York Boulevard, Suite 300 Richmond Hill, ON L4B 1J8 Licensee: Jamie Lemon, Golder Associates Ltd. License Number: 1056 PIF: P1056-0097-2017 REPORT Report Number: 1662269-7000-R01 Distribution: HDR - 1 PDF Copy MTCS - 1 PDF Copy REVISED Golder Associates Ltd. - 1 PDF Copy STAGE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT - MCCOWAN ROAD CLASS EA Executive Summary A Stage 1 archaeological assessment was conducted on behalf of the Regional Municipality of York through HDR by Golder Associates Ltd. (Golder), on part of Lots 1-21, Concessions 6, and part of Lots 1-21, Concession 7, Geographic Township of Markham, former County of York, now City of Markham, Regional Municipality of York, Ontario (Map 1). The Stage 1 archaeological assessment was conducted in support of a Municipal Class EA for improvements to McCowan Road from Steeles Avenue to Major MacKenzie Drive. The objective of the Stage 1 archaeological assessment was to compile available information about the known and potential archaeological resources within the Project Area and to determine if a field survey (Stage 2 and/or 3) is required, as well as to recommended Stage 2 and/or Stage 3 strategies if required. The Stage 1 archaeological assessment found the Project Area exhibited potential for the recovery of pre- and post-colonial Indigenous and historical Euro-Canadian archaeological deposits. This finding is supported by the Project Area’s proximity to potable water, soils conducive to Indigenous agriculture, a large number of previously identified archaeological sites within one kilometre and the proximity of the Project Area to early transportation routes and documented infrastructure. Based on the findings of the Stage 1 assessment the following recommendations are made, as illustrated in Map 5 and Supplement A: 1) Areas of previous disturbance exhibit low potential for the recovery of archaeological remains. No further assessment is recommended for these areas; 2) The Eckardt Cemetery is located on a height of land above McCowan Road and at a distance removed from the roadway. No further assessment is recommended for the Project Area adjacent to the Eckardt Cemetery; and 3) The Quantztown Cemetery is located adjacent to the Project Area. Should impacts be planned within 10 metres of the cemetery’s boundary (including within the right-of-way (ROW)) a Stage 3 archaeological assessment is recommended (Supplement A). This Stage 3 should include mechanical topsoil removal within 10 metres of the cemetery’s property, to ensure no unmarked grave shafts are impacted by the Project. This recommendation is consistent with Section 4.3 Standard 1 Table 4 (MTCS 2011). The Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS) is asked to review the results and recommendations presented herein and accept this report into the Provincial Register of archaeological reports. The MTCS is also asked to provide a letter concurring with the results presented herein. The Executive Summary highlights key points from the report only; for complete information and findings, as well as the limitations, the reader should examine the complete report. 24 May 2018 Report No. 1662269-7000-R01 i STAGE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT - MCCOWAN ROAD CLASS EA Personnel Project Manager Steven Jagdat Project Coordinator Michelle Summers Licensed Archaeologist Jamie Lemon, M.A. (P1056) Report Production Jamie Lemon, M.A. (P1056) Kendra Patton, M.A. (R453) GIS Julian Reyes, GIS Technician John Campo, GIS Technician Senior Review Carla Parslow, Ph.D. (P243), Hugh Daechsel, M.A., Principal, Senior Archaeologist Acknowledgments Proponent Contact Merlin Yuen, HDR 24 May 2018 Report No. 1662269-7000-R01 ii STAGE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT - MCCOWAN ROAD CLASS EA Table of Contents EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................................. i PROJECT PERSONNEL ................................................................................................................................................ ii 1.0 PROJECT CONTEXT ............................................................................................................................................ 1 1.1 Development Context ............................................................................................................................... 1 1.2 Historical Context ...................................................................................................................................... 1 1.2.1 Post-Colonial Indigenous Occupation of Southern Ontario ................................................................. 1 1.2.2 Euro-Canadian Settlement .................................................................................................................. 2 1.2.2.1 Geographic Township of Markham .................................................................................................. 2 1.2.2.2 Project Area History ......................................................................................................................... 4 1.3 Archaeological Context ............................................................................................................................. 6 1.3.1 The Natural Environment .................................................................................................................... 6 1.3.2 General Overview of the Pre-Colonial Period in Southern Ontario ..................................................... 6 1.3.3 Pre-colonial Indigenous Documentation.............................................................................................. 7 1.3.3.1 Paleo-Indian Period ......................................................................................................................... 7 1.3.3.2 Archaic Period ................................................................................................................................. 8 1.3.3.3 Woodland Period ............................................................................................................................. 9 1.3.4 Previously Identified Archaeological Sites and Surveys .................................................................... 12 2.0 FIELD METHODS ................................................................................................................................................ 14 2.1 Existing Conditions and Land Use .......................................................................................................... 14 2.2 Property Inspection ................................................................................................................................. 14 3.0 RECORD OF FINDS ............................................................................................................................................ 15 4.0 ANALYSIS AND CONCLUSIONS ....................................................................................................................... 16 4.1 Assessing Archaeological Potential ........................................................................................................ 16 4.1.1 Potential for Pre- and Post-Colonial Indigenous Archaeological Resources ..................................... 17 4.1.2 Potential for Historical Euro-Canadian Archaeological Resources .................................................... 17 4.1.3 Archaeological Integrity ..................................................................................................................... 17 5.0 RECOMMENDATIONS ........................................................................................................................................ 18 6.0 ADVICE ON COMPLIANCE WITH LEGISLATION ............................................................................................. 19 7.0 BIBLIOGRAPHY AND SOURCES ...................................................................................................................... 20 24 May 2018 Report No. 1662269-7000-R01 iii STAGE 1 ARCHAEOLOGICAL ASSESSMENT - MCCOWAN ROAD CLASS EA 8.0 IMAGES ............................................................................................................................................................... 24 9.0 MAPS ................................................................................................................................................................... 34 10.0 IMPORTANT INFORMATION AND LIMITATIONS OF THIS REPORT .............................................................. 47 TABLES Table 1: Pre-contact cultural chronology for south-central Ontario ................................................................................. 6 Table 2: Archaeological sites within 1 km of Project Area ............................................................................................. 12 Table 3: Inventory of documentary record ..................................................................................................................... 15 IMAGES Image 1: Area of