Standard conditions of rescue excavations

Rescue archaeology (“rescue survey” or “rescue excavations”) is a professional activity in the field of archaeology necessitated by the potential destruction or disruption of areas with archaeological finds. The outcome of this activity includes a set of finds (artefacts) and a site report (report on the results of the survey pursuant to the provisions of Section 21(3) of act number 20/1987 Sb., as amended) which documents in detail and analyses archaeological facts irreversibly destroyed by construction work, mining or other processes. For this reason, the research process includes all stages of archaeological activities on areas with archaeological finds, until to the stage where the site report is drawn up, i.e. the actual field work (excavation), documentation of the excavated features, recording and treatment of finds and other field documentation according to the established practice (e.g. plan drawing, digitization), documentation of finds and their preservation, if necessary, placement of finds into appropriate depositories, sample analyses (artefacts, animal bones, human bones, plant remains, mineral materials etc.) and comprehensive evaluation of the results. The research also includes its preparatory stage, i.e. the necessary on-site inspection where archaeological finds are expected (e.g. surface collection, geophysical measurements, aerial photography), as well as collection of information on previous finds from archives and the evaluation of this data.

Prior to the rescue survey itself the stage of preparation takes place which comprises research (based on a request by the investor, in order to determine the archaeological potential of the site; the rescue survey does not need to take place where the developer has given up their plan based on the outcome of the research) and monitoring of the removal of the top soil level prior to the construction work; it is carried out for the purpose of the planned rescue survey, so that the experts may determine the necessary scope of the works).

(cf. Institute of Archaeology, Czech Academy of Sciences)
 

Conditions of archaeological survey (Institute for Archaeological Heritage Brno, as the “authorised institution”):

1. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 22(2) of act number 20/1987 Sb., on state monument care, as amended, an investor is obliged to allow rescue survey carried out in the interest of the state monument care.
2. The investor shall specify, at least three business days in advance, the commencement of groundwork (545242342) and allow employees of the authorised institution to enter the site and give them the opportunity to carry out research activities as necessary.
3. The investor must allow employees of the authorised institution to enter the site and give them the opportunity to carry out research activities as necessary and, where needed, the installation of a mobile construction site booth on the site, pursuant to an agreement between authorised representatives of the investor and the authorised institution.
4. The investor shall provide to the authorised institution, at the investor’s cost, the necessary machinery for the stripping of the area in question, trial trenches, backfilling and landscaping upon the completion of the works. The authorised institution shall consult this requirement with an authorised representative of the investor, so that the time schedule of the construction works is not affected.
5. Employees of the authorised institution are obliged to abide by all OHSE regulations on the site.
6. The authorised institution is obliged to keep a site log from the beginning of the field work, reflecting all facts of key importance with regard to the course of the research; in particular, special entries must be made in the log on the commencement and completion of the second stage of the rescue excavation. The log must also contain detailed attendance records of employees, including their qualification levels. An authorised representative of the investor is entitled to inspect the data in the site log and acknowledge its correctness by his or her signature.
7. The authorised institution is not responsible for the removal or storage of the excavated soil; the investor undertakes to handle the soil at their cost.
8. The investor shall acknowledge the fact that, in the event of inclement weather, the rescue excavation works may be interrupted for as long as necessary. Representatives of the contracting parties shall record all facts arising from these circumstances in the site log.
9. The authorised institution shall respect the interests of the investor while exercising due diligence in performing the archaeological research and the protection of archaeological heritage.
10. Upon the completion of supervision or the rescue excavation the authorised institution shall submit to the investor its final report or a certificate of completion of archaeological research and it shall cooperate with the investor as necessary in dealing with regulatory authorities. 

Data:

ÚSTAV ARCHEOLOGICKÉ PAMÁTKOVÉ PÉČE BRNO, v.v.i. (Institute for Archaeological Heritage) 

• Listed in the registry of public research institutions kept by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports
• the main activity of IAH (ÚAPP Brno, v.v.i.) consists in carrying out rescue excavation and in the processing of finds, thereby allowing investors to comply with the conditions of their building permits within the meaning of act number 20/1987 Sb., on state monument care
• the institute issues expert opinions and reports with regard to construction development projects, provides consultations and publishes scientific journals and monographs.

Address:  Ústav archeologické památkové péče Brno, v.v.i.

                  Kaloudova 1321/30

                  614 00 Brno

Phone:               +420 545 242 342-43

E-mail:              sekretariat@uapp.cz

Mobile:              602 564 755

Bank:                 KB Brno-město, account number: 114134621/0100

Company no.:  48511005

VAT no.:            CZ48511005

ID:                       5npzgmx

Costs of archaeological research:

Typically, archaeological research consists of three parts (stages): first, professional supervision over groundwork in order to ensure qualified opinion as to whether the site represents an archaeological site, or not. Where it has been determined, based on the aforementioned supervision, that archaeological finds will be found, the second stage of the process follows which entails the documentation of the site, collection of finds etc. The third stage consists in the processing of the finds in laboratories, preparation of documentation and the interpretation of the information obtained throughout the process.

Costs of professional supervision: fixed amount based on the scope of works and other factors

Costs of field work (collection of finds, documentation etc.) and data/material processing:

The costs of professional supervision are calculated upon the basis of the scope of groundwork. The amount can also be based on the type of construction works, i.e. whether it is e.g. a utility line or a building built on one plot of land. The schedule of groundwork may also play a certain role. The fundamental factor determining the price of the professional supervision is whether the site is a known archaeological site or not, or the likelihood of disruption of finds. These facts are usually determined through background research as an inherent aspect of the professional supervision. Groundwork is carried out over a certain period of time when the archaeologist assigned to the project must commute to the site or be present at the site during the removal of the top layer of soil. Pursuant to the applicable act, the costs of the archaeological survey shall be borne by the investor, i.e. all actual costs incurred with the process. These include the costs of commuting to the site, the procurement of material and tools, salaries of workers, all overheads related to the work on the site (including administration costs, insurance etc.), all of which are included in the hourly rates of the workers. In the case of works and processes in laboratories, the hourly rates are deemed to include the costs of materials used in preservation, analyses etc.

For more detailed information on the aforementioned costs, see the methodology of the Institute of Archaeology of the Czech Academy of Sciences that deals with usual costs of archaeological research, at http://www.arup.cas.cz/?cat=588.