Presentation and Interpretation

A. BACKGROUND

1. History

Quebec was founded in the very earliest stage of France's colonial expansion into the New World, by Samuel de Champlain in 1608. It is located above and below a steep escarpment overlooking the St. Lawrence River. Quebec's topography and historic functions have combined to create an urban form which is still reflected in the fortified upper town and port side lower town today.

During the French period of control before 1759, the essential character of the city's two zones was established - the lower city adjacent to the port accommodating the city's commercial functions, and the upper city incorporating administrative and religious functions.

While the overall patterns established during the 17th and 18th centuries survive, only a small proportion of buildings from that period - primarily religious monuments in the Upper City - exist today. The city took on its present outward form largely in the first half of the 19th century, from which period close to half the buildings in the Historic District date.

2. World Heritage Nomination

Quebec City was elevated to the World Heritage List in late 1985 on the basis of two criteria promoted within the ICOMOS review. ICOMOS cited criterion (iv), noting the city's Historic District to be "a coherent urban ensemble... including the Citadel, the Upper City defended by walls with bastions and the Lower City with its harbour and old quarters, an eminent example of a fortified colonial town... by far the most complete in North America". Criterion (vi) is also applied noting that Quebec, "the former capital of New France... illustrates one of the major stages in population and growth of the America's during the modern and contemporary period".

3. Contact Information:

B. ACCOMPLISHMENTS

• increasing public awareness and appreciation of the nature and wealth of archaeological heritage interpretation of archeological research and site development for public interest, during and after excavation;
• integrating archaeological research within the City's programme of urban development.

C. CONTEXT

Quebec City is one of the richest and most diverse archaeological sites in Canada. Though its role has altered in its near 400 years of life, it has always been at the centre of development within its region. As a capital city first of New France, later of the United Canadas, Lower Canada and finally Quebec province, its political institutions have left a substantial legacy; equally, as a port Ä once North America's 3rd largest Ä the changing harbour and associated facilities have left an imprint of great importance. As a fortified city, the sequence of fortifications dating back to 1693 comprise a powerful component of the historical record; again, equally, as an ecclesiastical centre, its evolving centres of religious, educational and health care constitute a strong element of the City's present and past character. And finally, the residents who supported the City's institutional and commercial activities with their energy have left a record of extraordinary diversity and richness.

Interest in this archaeological wealth has been seriously manifest for over 25 years. During that period, the approach has moved from one which focused on sites of special significance (for example in the 1970's) to one in which a partnership embracing academic, corporate and government interest has developed to identify and work at sites throughout the Historic District. This collaborative approach and its coordination of the many often competing interest which may surround potential projects has been pioneered and led by the City, who succeeded in creating a position for a staff archaeologist in 1985 Canada's first.

D. APPROACH

In Quebec Province, the policies of the Cultural Affairs Department and the Cutural Properties Act determine the degree and kind of protection which may be afforded sites of archaeological interest. However, given the thrust of the last decade's policies in the conservation area Ä that is, delegating responsibility to local and regional government for developing and implementing specific programmes Ä archaeological initiative to a very great extent lies with the City. A series of "ententes sur la mise en valeur des biens culturels" between the Province and the City, since 1979, have permitted Quebec to focus in town areas like mitigating urban development projects, and developing sites offering potential for public interpretation.

According to the terms of the present Agreement, Quebec has agreed to protect and develop elements of archaeological interest on protected municipally owned properties. Though it has not attempted to extend its control to private properties (through bylaws which would identify and protect sites in private hands), it does coordinate all urban development projects undertaken within the context of the Agreement. Quebec contributes 30% to the cost of such projects, the Province the remaining 70%.

As well, the City has adopted an urban development plan (1988) and a cultural development policy (1989) which reflect the orientations established by the last Agreement and which encourage research, conservation promotion, development and interpretation of archaeological resources.

Research funding made available through the Agreement is transferred to Laval University for the field school and research project established at the site of the Intendant's Palace in 1982, and for laboratory conservation of artefacts recovered.

The Palais site is a particularly rich one, even for Quebec, its more than three hundred years of industrial and institutional history containing five major phases starting with the establishment of a brewery in 1669 and ending with the demolition of another in 1970. (In between times, the site was occupied by the Intendant's Palace and the King's Storehouses (1675 to 1759), and by various types of building including barracks, houses and a bakery (1760 to 1850). The City has also developed the site as an archaeological interpretation centre, opening it to the public in September, 1989 within a 1200 square meter portable shelter.

The City has always taken steps to ensure the accessibility of its archaeological research to the public through interpreting excavation in progress, for example with the efforts to expose the vestiges of the Château St-Louis resting under Dufferin Terrace.

The interpretive programme while treating the various phases of the area's history focuses on the contributions of the many different participants in archaeological work. The site, open six months of the year, designs it programmes for tourist and local school groups. Other City heritage interpretation ventres incorporate archaeological material and perspectives in their programmes. The Musée de la Civilisation for example displays a sailing barque discovered during construction. Within the Historic District, vanished sites of particular significance, such as Champlain's Habitation (1624), have been illustrated with specially designed paving.

The research information recovered is also being shared with the public in other ways. "Quebec : La Ville sous la Ville" is one of the best popular introductions to the archaeology of an historic city ever published.

A children's book illustrating the 1747 City has been published based on archaeologically accurate findings. Elsewhere, a college level course, obligatory for the city's tourist guides, presents detailed archaeological background on recent projects.

Archaeological research is well integrated with the other phases of the heritage planning process in city projects; the approach to project management is collaborative, recognizing and conciliating the interests of all parties involved; and research activity goes hand-in-hand with interpretation, building and broadening public support with every venture.

Planning and activity are coordinated through the work of a coordinating committee, comprising representatives of the City, the province Cultural Affairs Department, and Laval University. The model provided, in ensuring compatibility and coherence of projects and actions carried out by organizations with different responsibilities and mandates, is important in a city where functional shifts in the use of the most major sites (e.g. harbour, fortifications) have usually resulted in split ownership of such sites.

Within the Historic District established in 1964 (whose boundaries correspond roughly to the World Heritage Site), the key management tool is a cultural resources study completed in 1984. It presents a synthesis of compiled data on known and presumed sites; its conclusions have been detailed in a popular publication and on an accompanying 1:3000 map. This study of archaeological potential is being extended to include a series of integrated studies combining historical, architectural and archaeological analyses for each city property; two prototype studies in high interest areas have been completed and are being accompanied by test- pitting to confirm findings.

The City employs a collaborative approach to the management of its archaeological collections. Laval University carries out laboratory conservation of artefacts; treated collections are stored in the City Archives; untreated collections in the Cultural Affairs Department Archaeological reserves.

The City has developed an approach to mitigation for both large and small scale projects. Road work within the Historic District is routinely screened by the city archaeologist to ensure protection, salvage or monitoring as appropriate. An archaeologist is also present on municipal construction sites to identify and record evident features. Once again, successful operations at this level require close cooperation between municipal Planning and Engineering Departments.

Note: The author is indebted to William Moss of the City of Quebec for assistance rendered in preparation of this case study.