Guide for builders
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Guide for Builders on Archaeological Surveys
Ancient monuments that are threatened by building / construction work are protected by the Museums Act.
Museum Lolland-Falster has the archaeological responsibility for Guldborgsund and Lolland municipalities.
The museum's archaeologists assess whether the construction work poses a threat to ancient monuments, carry out archaeological preliminary investigations if there is a risk, and archaeological investigations (excavations) when necessary.
Here you can read more about what you must take into account when you have to carry out construction work, what you have the right and duty to do, what the difference is between an archaeological preliminary study and an archaeological study, and who pays for the archaeologists' work. .
Archival control
The municipalities notify the museum when they give permission for a building / construction work. The museum then screens whether past monuments have been registered on the affected area.
You can also ask the museum for an opinion on whether there are ancient monuments in the area.
The opinion is free.
If the archival control is not sufficient to give a sensible impression of the ancient monuments on an area, the museum will usually recommend that an archaeological preliminary study be carried out.
The feasibility study is voluntary. It is the client, ie you, who decides whether the preliminary investigation is to be carried out.
Why is the feasibility study a good idea?
The feasibility study is an insurance against unforeseen expenses for archaeological investigations:
- You will find out whether there are ancient monuments on your land before the construction work begins.
- You will get an estimate of the cost and time spent on any archaeological investigations
- You will have the opportunity to organize the building / construction work so that you can reduce or completely avoid the costs in connection with any archaeological investigations.
- If, in a statement or after a preliminary investigation, the museum has assessed that the building / construction work can be carried out without threatening ancient monuments, and that ancient monuments still appear, the Palaces and Culture Agency pays for the necessary investigations
Who pays?
Preliminary study
- If the area is less than 5.000 m2, it is usually (but not always) Museum Lolland-Falster that pays
- Is the area larger than 5.000 m2 , the builder must pay
- If the area is within a medieval city center, the client must pay regardless of the size of the area
Examination
- It is the client who, regardless of the size of the area, must pay. You will receive the award for the archaeological study when the preliminary study is completed
- If the museum has declared an area "antiquity-free", and antiquities still appear, the Palaces and Culture Agency pays for the investigation
Should the feasibility study be deselected?
If you start a building / construction work without taking advantage of the offer of an archival inspection or a preliminary investigation, and monuments appear, the work must, to the extent that it affects the monument, be stopped immediately and the museum must be notified.
Failure to do so may result in a police report.
If you run a farm or forestry business
If you encounter ancient monuments during earthworks in connection with normal (ie unchanged) farming or forestry, you have a duty to contact the museum.
The Palaces and Culture Agency pays for any archaeological investigations.
If an archaeological survey is to be carried out, it is possible to obtain compensation for the loss of crops.
If you need to make raw material extraction
In connection with raw material extraction, the same rules apply as for building / construction work.
More information about client-paid (pre) surveys
The Palaces and Culture Agency is the authority for the Museums Act.
It is the agency that must approve the costs of a client-paid preliminary investigation or study before it can start, and which decides questions of doubt.
You can find more guidance and information on conducting archaeological (pre) surveys at The Palaces and Culture Agency's website and read the full text of the Museum Act here.
You are always welcome to contact Museum Lolland-Falster's archaeologists if you want advice on ancient monuments in connection with a building, construction or earthworks.