The Alberta Archaeological Site Inventory contains information on archaeological resources in Alberta.  “Archaeological resource means a work of humans that is primarily of value for its prehistoric, historic, cultural or scientific significance, and is or was buried or partially buried in land in Alberta or submerged beneath the surface of any watercourse or permanent body of water in Alberta” (Historical Resources Act).

Prehistoric archaeological sites include campsites; stone features such as tipi rings, cairns and medicine wheels; workshop sites where stone tools were manufactured; killsites, such as jumps and pounds; and rock art, including pictographs and petroglyphs.  Historic archaeological sites include trading posts; police posts; early settlements; homesteads; and industrial sites.  Sites vary in size and complexity from the location of a single stone tool to complex areas occupied by many different groups over thousands of years, such as Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump.  Records in the Archaeological Site Inventory contain information on site location, description, age and cultural affiliation, material collections, project information, investigation status and references to manuscripts and reports.

The Alberta Archaeological Site Inventory was formed in 1973 when records from institutions including the Alberta Parks Service, the Glenbow Museum, the Provincial Museum of Alberta, the University of Alberta and the University of Calgary were centralized in this provincial inventory.  The earliest of these records date to the 1950s. The inventory currently contains over 30,000 site records, with over 500 added each year.  Today, most new site records result from archaeological investigations conducted for proposed developments, as required through the Historical Resources Impact Assessment process.

For further information, click here to contact the Inventory and Permit Coordinator, Archaeology and History Section.

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