David Munro, adjusting his Tilley hat, gestures with a long wooden walking stick towards a turtle-shaped carving on a weathered rock face. Spectators gather around as dusk falls over the St. Victor Petroglyphs site in Assiniboia, Saskatchewan.
Leading a tour of this ancient Indigenous rock art site, Munro showcases the intricate lines, shapes, and symbols etched into the horizontal rockface. The tour coincides with the unveiling of recent carbon dating results on archaeological findings below the site, suggesting human activity dating back over 2,000 years.
Archaeologist Tim Jones, who spearheaded the original excavation in 1990, explains that the carbon dating, based on bone samples collected beneath the petroglyph cliff, reveals significant timelines. The samples, one dating to 900 AD and the other to 120 BC, shed light on the ancient use of the site.
The St. Victor Petroglyphs site boasts over 360 carvings, making it the largest rock art collection in Saskatchewan. Munro, president of the Friends of the St. Victor Petroglyphs Cooperative Ltd., underscores the importance of preserving and educating the public about this heritage site.
Expressing surprise at the earlier-than-expected dating results, Munro plans to continue carbon dating further bone samples to unravel more of the site’s ancient history. He highlights the nomadic lifestyle of First Nations groups who frequented the area, following seasonal patterns for hunting and sustenance.
While celebrating the newfound insights, Munro voices concerns about the site’s preservation, citing ongoing deterioration due to environmental factors. He stresses the need for collaborative efforts to safeguard this historical treasure within the protected provincial park and traditional Treaty 4 Territory.
Karin Steuber, executive director of the Saskatchewan Archaeological Society, lauds the research at St. Victor as a milestone in understanding the region’s past. She commends the Friends of St. Victor Petroglyphs for their dedication to uncovering and sharing the province’s rich human history.
Steuber emphasizes the site’s significance in highlighting the enduring connection between Indigenous peoples and the landscape, underscoring the importance of learning from the past for a sustainable future.