Archaeological discovery during work: stop, preserve and declare it
Pause work at the location, avoid moving objects and declare the discovery to the Quebec ministry.
Stop work around the discovery. Do not clean, move or publish the precise location of possible objects or structures.
Mark off without touching
Move machinery and traffic away, mark a buffer at a distance and protect the area from weather only without contacting the remains.
Document the context
Record location, date, depth, work underway and observer. Take overview photos from the already opened area without staging anything.
Declare the discovery
Quebec states that an archaeological discovery must be declared whether or not it occurs under an archaeological research permit. Use the official process.
Wait for instructions
Keep names, correspondence and the site plan. An archaeological declaration does not replace calling police when a find may be human or crime-related.
Declare an archaeological discovery — Québec