Corn, beans and squash turn up at an archaeological site near Moose Jaw, Sask.

Around 240,000 pieces of artifacts found at an archaeological site in Moose Jaw, Sask., are highlighting the long human history in the Wakamow Valley.

Archaeologists shared their most recent findings in presentations at the library in Moose Jaw last month.

Bill Strongarm, a senator with the Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations from the Touchwood Agency Tribal Council, said he is happy the site and artifacts were found.

“It’s a very sacred traditional place,” said Strongarm.

Strongarm said the site is located in an area used as a camping spot by Saulteaux and Assiniboine people, when they were on their way to the Cypress Hills in southwest Saskatchewan.

Strongarm said the tribes likely stopped for water and a resupply of food and a few stayed over the winter.

Strongarm said these artifact findings are just a layer of stories that need more research about Indigenous people and hopes a heritage centre can be built to preserve the area.

Strongarm said with the discovery of the artifacts, he hopes more stories can be told about how Indigenous people adapted to their environment.

Alan Kojejbo, a senior archaeologist at Respect Heritage Consulting, said archaeologists were brought in as the site was going to be affected by work on a nearby highway.

Korejbo said he first started working on the site in 2024, but former land owners Paul and Bill Davies started their own digging in the 1950s.

He said the artifacts span pre- and post-European contact, and the pre-contact artifacts suggest people have been active in the area for over 12,000 years.

He said he was impressed by the large turnout at the library presentation as people were interested to find out what they were doing in the back of their fields and bushes.

“It’s quite phenomenal,” said Korejbo.

“Quite honestly, I was blown away.”

The artifacts include stone and bone tools, including projectile points, scrapers, awls and knives. Some tools were made from bison bones.

Korejbo said what is especially exciting about this site is the plant and pottery evidence.

He said the pottery isn’t typically found in southern Saskatchewan, and at first they thought it was from Missouri.

“More recent analysis suggests that it’s more likely it’s from areas in southern Manitoba, Ontario and Minnesota,” said Korejbo.

Microscopic study of plant residue on artifacts, including the pottery, found things like wild rice, beans, corn and squash.

That surprised Korejbo, as it could mean people were growing food as well as gathering it, which he said could be the only site of its kind in Saskatchewan.

He said there are still questions to be answered, like whether the corn and beans came here by trade, or if they grew it here themselves.

Korejbo said the artifacts were sent to the Royal Saskatchewan Museum, where they can be studied for further understanding about this site.

“I think it substantiates our existence and how long we have been on this continent,” said Strongarm.

“I’m very proud of those sites.”