Archaeological monument preservation; earthworks under supervision

Hello everyone,

my husband and I could acquire a plot of land from the city. In the written regulations regarding building codes, it states that one must expect archaeological finds in the soil. Therefore, the district archaeologist must be involved during the earthworks.
Does anyone have experience with what additional costs we should expect for this?

Thanks in advance!

Costs maybe not but if they find something you can wait until they are finished.

Maybe not the costs but if they find something you can wait until they are finished.

So like 2 to 11 years of commitment interest?

Regards,
Steph

In our construction area, there are suspected unexploded ordnance points, or whatever it is called. When asked the architect how to deal with this risk, he said casually, better a bomb, that happens more often and is removed, than an antique vase. Then half a study program with little brushes would move in, instead of the client.

Or in other words, in the case of a bomb find, the goal is clear for everyone, to eliminate this danger as quickly as possible. With the antique vase, hearts open up.

Definitely plan for additional costs in financing (Provision interest), do not create pressure on the old apartment (terminating too early, etc.)

better a bomb....

about 3 months ago spoke with an acquaintance, who experienced the same thing last year. It went roughly like this:

1. Panic & fear for life and limb
2. Panic & fear of financial ruin (evacuation of residential area, cleanup etc...)
3. Excavator operator deeply relaxed ("already the fourth on the bucket this year")
4. Bomb disposal unit arrives, deeply relaxed: "don’t worry, the state and city will pay"
5. That’s how it was

Conclusion: stayed calm, but nothing happened.


Regards,
Steph

Hello

Archaeological finds are an incalculable "risk" in Germany. I once found a moose at about 2.5 meters depth. An old arm of the Rhine once flowed past my place. I was so naively loyal and called the authorities. I shouldn't have done that. First of all, immediate construction stop. That was clear to me. I told them that the skeleton could be excavated in 2-3 weeks. One of the authorities explained to me: As soon as you as the owner find something in the ground, you are the cause of this disturbance. You don’t even have to dig. And everything that lies in the ground belongs to the public. Since you are the disturber, you have to bear the costs of removing the "disturbance". In my case, that would have meant: A civil engineering company moves in and excavates the soil in a large radius around the skeleton to a depth below the animal. The hole is secured. Then, at some point, the whatever-they-are-called come with little buckets, little shovels, and little brushes and start wiping away the earth. Eventually, they uncovered the skeleton and then decide whether the skeleton is recovered, thrown away, or left in place and you are not allowed to build there. In the best case, the skeleton is thrown in the bin. In the second case, it is recovered: costs about 30,000 euros. I would have had to pay that. In the worst case, you are not allowed to build there. I was very lucky: nobody cared about the skeleton. It went in the bin. That is not the rule. With archaeological finds, nothing goes in the bin. For this reason, so many builders possibly report finds. They are happy to wait and pay. After all, the public benefits from it.

Steven