That stone weighing down the garbage lid on the back porch could be an important part of Saskatchewan’s cultural history.
Senior archeologist David Ebert wants to make sure people know how to identify artifacts they find, where to go for help and how to preserve them for everyone in Saskatchewan.
Ebert of Saskatchewan’s heritage resources branch in Regina said it is illegal to sell or trade such objects without ministerial approval.
The Heritage Property Act was created in 1980 to protect historic buildings and archeological and paleontological pieces like dinosaur bones, fossils and aboriginal tools dating from 11,000 years ago to the Second World War.
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Artifacts found since 1980 are the property of the crown, but Ebert said farmers have a role to play in stewardship.
“We’re not going to swoop down and confiscate what they’ve got,” he said, noting tax credits are available to those interested in donating pieces to the province.
The government wants to document where historical artifacts are found for its records and minimize damage to sensitive sites in future development, he said.
There are 21,000 sites registered in Saskatchewan ranging from before Europeans arrived and including teepee camps, buffalo kills, medicine wheels and human burial sites.
Anyone finding objects can send photos to Ebert at arms@cyr.gov.sk.ca, phone 306-787-2817 or contact a museum or archeological society.
With a steady black market for such goods, he said his department’s goal is to preserve the cultural history of Saskatchewan.
The heritage resources branch regularly provides information about the act to groups like the Saskatchewan Auctioneers Association. It also monitors internet sites like eBay and contacts those selling such artifacts.
“They really belong to all of us and help define us as a province,” he said.
As an example, Ebert said studying how people adapted to climate change 6,000 years ago might one day help today’s society deal with changes.
A recent Museums Association of Saskatchewan survey found people believe heritage is important and worth protecting.
“For any group of people, where we came from has an effect on where we’re going,” he said.
