Most lands subjected to archaeological assessment in Ontario have been intensively cultivated for a century or more. The visibility of artifacts on the ploughzone surface is the primary factor influencing site identification in this context, but the relationship between surface artifact samples and the underlying ploughzone assemblage is poorly understood. This paper reviews relevant research on the surface-ploughzone relationship and outlines a framework for predicting artifact distributions in the ploughzone based on surface scatters. I argue that the stochastic nature of soil mixing in the ploughzone provides a reliable and predictable pattern of surface representation influenced primarily by artifact size and soil depth. These insights can usefully inform Cultural Resource Management project design and scoping exercises when planning site assessments in ploughed field contexts.
ASI’s Response to the Proposed Ontario Bill 5
May 9, 2025