Komas Ranch heritage assessment remains under discussion

Trustees heard differing accounts of past archaeological work as they considered a preliminary field reconnaissance for Komas Ranch properties.

The Denman Firestarter · reporting 2025-01-23 · compiled 2026-10-01

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The Denman Island Local Trust Committee discussed a proposed preliminary field reconnaissance for Komas Ranch properties at its January 21 meeting, as part of work on environmental, archaeological and cultural heritage protection. ^[1]

The applicant’s representative said three extensive archaeological digs had already taken place and argued that a preliminary reconnaissance would not add new information. The representative also said property owners should not bear the cost of further archaeological information following a transfer of authority. ^[1]

A K’ómoks First Nation archaeologist said there had been no significant or extensive excavations on the property and that the owners had misunderstood information held by the BC Archaeology Branch. The archaeologist said records indicated archaeologists were present in 1952, hydro pole replacement work took place along the road, and K’ómoks First Nation attended to rebury ancestral remains. ^[1]

The minutes say the proposed reconnaissance is intended to address gaps in cultural and archaeological heritage information and help inform a heritage conservation area. They also record that the applicant supports protecting cultural heritage values but questions the need for the reconnaissance. ^[1]

Sources

Denman Island Local Trust Committee minutes, January 21, 2025
The applicant is in support of protecting the cultural heritage values on the properties but they question the necessity of conducting preliminary field reconnaissance.

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