A Canadian hotel has been fined CAD 50,000 for violating the British Columbia Heritage Conservation Act after it was discovered that a 3,000 year-old site had been disturbed during a construction project.

The hotel developers had paid for an archaeologist to assess the site, which is a First Nations village dating back 2,000 - 3,000 years. According to witnesses, however, construction workers continued to dig up the area in order to build a new road, disturbing artefact and human remains in the process. It is claimed that this material was spread out to make the road surface, including bones unearthed from graves.

The fine levied on the hotel is the largest to have been imposed under the B.C. Heritage Conservation Act, but it is still a long way short of the possible maximum fine of CAD 1 million. Local politician Maurine Karagianis claims that, as a result, developers would rather risk a small fine than delay construction to preserve remains and sites properly.

$50,000 fine for bones used in road -- Victoria Times Colonist, Canada

The cost of culture -- Victoria Times Colonist, Canada