Archaeologists have uncovered more than 200,000 artifacts [1] in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan, revealing evidence of First Nations agricultural practices.

This discovery provides a rare glimpse into the plant cultivation knowledge of Indigenous groups in the region, challenging traditional assumptions about land use and food production in the Canadian prairies.

Senior archaeologist Alan Korejbo, leading the excavation for Respect Heritage Consulting, said the team recovered "more than 200,000 artifacts" [1]. The findings include horticulture equipment and other items that point to a sophisticated understanding of plant cultivation.

According to The Star Phoenix, knowledge of plant cultivation is established among First Nations groups to the east and south, including the practice of growing the "Three Sisters" [2]—corn, beans, and squash. The Moose Jaw findings suggest that these agricultural techniques were more widespread than previously documented in this specific area.

The excavation was conducted to investigate and understand First Nations agricultural practices and plant cultivation knowledge [2]. By analyzing the items found at the site, researchers aim to clarify how Indigenous peoples managed the land and integrated agricultural tools into their daily lives.

Respect Heritage Consulting continues to evaluate the rest of the collection to determine the same level of detail regarding the specific crops grown at the site. The team is working to ensure that the same level of detail regarding the specific crops grown at the site is preserved for future study.

“Archaeologists have uncovered more than 200,000 artifacts in Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan.”

The scale of the discovery in Moose Jaw represents a significant shift in the potential understanding of Indigenous land management. By uncovering physical evidence of horticulture in a region where agricultural history is often overlooked, the discovery provides a tangible link to the historical presence and sophisticated agricultural systems of First Nations people in the Saskatchewan.