Archeologists race to protect flood-exposed buffalo jump near Calgary

Archeologists are racing to excavate artifacts from a buffalo jump and adjoining 1,000-year-old First Nations campsite southeast of Calgary, to preserve artifacts exposed in the 2013 flood.

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The site at the FM Ranch sitewas first excavated privately in 1959 butwork largelystopped after it received provincial designation. But the flood two years ago unearthednew treasures: archeologistshave uncovered new fire pits, hide-drying areas and bison factories.

"There was a silver lining in this case because what we realized with the new flood bank exposure is the site was much larger than we originally thought," saidDarrylBereziuk, director of the province'sArcheological Survey Section.

"We are really racing to protect the site," saidBereziuk. "We're determining how big the site is so we can expand our protective boundaries."

Bereziuksays the campsite next to the buffalo jump goes back 1,000 years and had at least nine separate occupants.

"It's a very detailed record of Calgary history."

Though many artifacts were washed away, it's been a boon for new discoveries that tell a story about Alberta's indigenous ancestors.

"What people were doing here is they were processing the bison kill and rendering the fat from the bones so they could use it in their food preparation," said Western Heritage archeologistKristaGilliland.

The site could rival the importance of Head Smashed-In Buffalo Jump, a World Heritage Site near FortMacLeod, in part because the artifacts are less compacted, making them easier to study,saidTrevor Peck, an archeologist with Alberta Culture and Tourism.

"If you are looking for an archological jewel in the province,that would be it," saidBereziuk.

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The goal is to explore theartifacts thatare embedded atthe site, but to largely leave them be, except in cases where experts fear they will be lost to future flooding.

"For the most part, archeologists prefer to preserve things in place," he said.

If you happen to come acrossa bone, arrowhead or stone tool, Bereziuk says you should call the province'sReport A Find hotline.

He says you shouldn'ttouch or disturb the artifactand if possible, record theGPS location where you found it.