According to Section 22 Paragraph 2 of Act No. 20/1987 Coll., builders who intend to build on land containing archaeological finds must notify the Institute of Archaeology of their plans (using the prepared form) and allow the Institute or other authorised organisation to carry out an archaeological survey. They key term here is "land containing archaeological finds," while the actual area is defined negatively. Only land that we reliably know does not and cannot contain any finds can be classed as archaeologically sterile. This means that practically the whole of the Czech Republic constitutes land containing archaeological finds, and so an archaeologist should always be present when any work is performed below ground level.

 

When preparing a site which will involve digging below ground level, the builder or planner must check whether any archaeological finds have already been discovered at the site or in the vicinity. In the case of building work in or immediately adjacent to the historical centres of cities or extensive building sites near known archaeological localities, a professional search or fact-finding survey should be carried out first. The information acquired gives us a more precise estimate of the time and expense involved in performing an actual archaeological survey.
 

Question: How should I notify the Institute of Archaeology of a building?

Answer: Use the form and send it to us by e-mail* or by post. *Please state the cadastre or name of the building in the file name.

 

Question: How can I know whether I am building on land containing archaeological finds?

Answer: Unless you are building in an abandoned quarry or surface mine, it is highly likely that you are building on land containing archaeological finds. Contact your nearest authorised organisation or the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic for more detailed information.

 

Question: Where can I obtain the proof of archaeological research required for final building approval?

Answer: Proof of archaeological research is issued by the organisation that performed the research. If no research was performed, administrative offence proceedings must first be held in accordance with Section 35 Paragraph 2 (f) of Act No. 20/1987 Coll. and the document confirming payment of the fine then serves as proof.

 

Question: Do we have to announce a public contract or tender for archaeological research?

Answer: No. Archaeological research is a scientific activity performed on a non-profit basis. Individual authorised organisations do not compete amongst one another and are assigned research by regional archaeological committees operating under the auspices of the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic depending on their available capacity and specialised profile. If you require proof of this fact for a specific project, contact the Institute of Archaeology of the Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic.

 

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oznameni.doc	27 KB
zadost.doc	26.5 KB