Environmental Assessment
Volume E-5.2
Tailings Facility
Cultural Property
Ambatovy Project
199
January 2006
5.2
CULTURAL PROPERTY
5.2.1
Introduction
This section presents the Environmental Assessment for the effects of the tailings
site 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 footprint area of the tailings site. Some cultural resources have
been identified outside of the current footprint area, and are included in this study
for the sake of completeness. These sites will not have any bearing on
recommendations made in the impact assessment portion of this report.
5.2.3
Baseline Summary
The following provides a summary of the results of cultural resources studies that
have been conducted within the project tailings footprint. A complete description
of the baseline methods, analysis and results is located in Volume K,
Appendix 2.1.
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 at Toamasina between June and July of 2005.
Systematic pedestrian transects were used to visually inspect the study area.
Local expertise was also consulted by questioning villagers about the locations of
any known archaeological or cultural sites in the area. A global positioning
system (GPS) was used to plot the coordinates of sites found during the survey.
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.
