Environmental Assessment
Volume C-5.2
Slurry Pipeline
Cultural Property
Ambatovy Project
180
January 2006
5.2
CULTURAL PROPERTY
5.2.1
Introduction
This section presents the Environmental Assessment (EA) for the effects of the
pipeline on cultural resources, as per the Ambatovy Project (the project) Terms
of Reference.
5.2.2
Study Area
The Local Study Area (LSA) used for the cultural property impact assessment
comprises the pipeline right-of-way. Because the latter has not yet been firmly
established, cultural resource sites were identified within a one kilometre wide
corridor following the proposed pipeline route. As such, recommendations
pertaining to these sites may only be made once the pipeline route is finalized.
5.2.3
Baseline Summary
The following provides a summary of the results of cultural resources studies that
have been conducted within the pipeline corridor.
5.2.3.1 Methodology
Pre-field work consisted of analyzing the results of previous historical studies
completed in the general region. Regional toponyms were also studied, as place-
names can assist in reconstructing the particular history of an area.
Fieldwork was completed as part of a socioeconomic assessment of the project
area by SOATEG. Local expertise was consulted by questioning villagers about
the locations of any known archaeological or cultural sites within the pipeline
corridor. Although a global positioning system (GPS) was used to plot the
coordinates of sites found during this survey, some sites were not physically
visited due to cultural sensitivity concerns, and therefore only approximate
locations of these were obtained for this report.
5.2.3.2 Site Diversity
Table 5.2-1 below illustrates the different kinds of cultural sites that are known to
exist in the general region.
