Archaeological Overview Assessment (AOA) & Preliminary Field Reconnaissance (PFR)
An Archaeological Overview Assessment (AOA) is a preliminary study undertaken to determine if there is potential for undocumented archaeological sites within a proposed development area. The AOA includes background research, literature review, and biophysical and topographic characteristics analysis. The AOA results include an evaluation of the archaeological potential of the development area, and recommendations for next steps.
A site visit or Preliminary Field Reconnaissance (PFR) may be undertaken as part of an AOA. The PFR involves a preliminary field survey to identify visible features and fine tune the archaeological potential evaluation. A permit is typically not required for AOA/PFR level study.