Sask. bison help archeologist uncover 'rare' 1,000 year old petroglyph
Rock carvings from more than a thousand years ago have been discovered at Wanuskewin Heritage Park.
Ernie Walker, Wanuskewin’s chief archeologist, made the rare discovery with the help of a bison herd.
Last summer, Walker was out feeding the bison at the paddock — about 800 metres west of the Wanuskewin building.
He looked down at the ground that the bison had been rolling around in and saw a boulder peeking through the dirt.
Upon further investigation, Walker noticed the rock had grooves in a definite pattern and determined it was a petroglyph.
“I was trying not to have a heart attack because I hadn't expected it,” Walker told reporters at the rock unveiling on Friday.
Walker believes Indigenous people carved the rock more than a thousand years ago.
The carving is known as “ribstone,” Walker says it resembles the bones of a bison and represents fertility.
Walker had surveyed the area in the 1980s and didn’t find anything. He believes the bison, who were brought to the park in 2019, exposed the discovery.
“They uncovered it, just with their normal activity,” Walker says.
“I like to think it's their message that they’re happy to be here.”
Days after the ribstone discovery, Walker and his team found three more petroglyphs and the tool used to make the carvings.
“This is tremendously significant and very unusual,” Walker says.
The archeologist says the width of the carving rock matched the width of the grooves on the rock.
He says it’s rare to find the carving tool.
“You never get that,” he says.
“Whoever did that, left it there or misplaced it, probably over a thousand years ago. I like to think it's their business card. They left their business card here.”
The petroglyphs and carving tool are secured in glass, on display in the park’s building.
Ernie Walker believes the bison, who were brought to the park in 2019, exposed the discovery. (Chad Hills/CTV News)
DISCOVERY CARVING WAY FOR UNESCO DESIGNATION
Wanuskewin is in the process of getting recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
With this rare discovery, park CEO Darlene Brander says Wanuskewin is one step closer to reaching the designation.
“It’s significant and monumental,” Brander says.
She says the petroglyphs were the missing puzzle piece in the UNESCO application.
Wanuskewin aims to become a UNESCO World Heritage site by 2025.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Why drivers in Eastern Canada could see big gas price spikes, and other Canadians won't
Drivers in Eastern Canada face a big increase in gas prices because of various factors, especially the higher cost of the summer blend, industry analysts say.
How to avoid the trap of becoming 'house poor'
The journey to home ownership can be exciting, but personal finance columnist Christopher Liew warns about the trappings of becoming 'house poor' -- where an overwhelming portion of your income is devoured by housing costs. Liew offers some practical strategies to maintain better financial health while owning a home.
Toxic forever chemicals in drinking water: Is Canada doing enough?
As the United States sets its first national limits on toxic forever chemicals in drinking water, researchers say Canada is lagging when it comes to regulations.
'A living nightmare': Winnipeg woman sentenced following campaign of harassment against man after online date
A Winnipeg woman was sentenced to house arrest after a single date with a man she met online culminated in her harassing him for years, and spurred false allegations which resulted in the innocent man being arrested three times.
Some customers steaming after McDonald's ends free hot drink sticker program
It took years for Vinnie Deluca to collect more than 400 cards worth of free McDonald's McCafe coffee, a collection that now has "zero value" after the company discontinued the program.
Biden scores endorsements from Kennedy family, looking to shore up support against Trump and RFK Jr.
U.S. President Joe Biden will accept endorsements from at least 15 members of the Kennedy political family during a campaign stop in Philadelphia on Thursday as he aims to undermine Donald Trump and marginalize the candidacy of Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
Where did the gold go? Crime expert weighs in on unfolding Pearson airport heist investigation
Almost 7,000 bars of pure gold were stolen from Pearson International Airport exactly one year ago during an elaborate heist, but so far only a tiny fraction of that stolen loot has been found.
When new leaders took over in ancient Maya, they didn't just bury the former royals. They burned their bodies in public
New archeological investigations in Guatemala reveal that the ancient Maya people had a ritual of burning royal human remains as a public display of political regime change.
Prince William returns to public duties after wife Kate's cancer revelation
Prince William will return to public duties on Thursday for the first time since his wife Kate revealed she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy for cancer.