Regina Leader Post
July 3, 1971. p.2
Portions of a 70-million-year-old sea creature and a burial site containing an earlier skeleton are among recent discoveries investigated by the Saskatchewan Museum of Natural History.
Discovered 14 miles south of Milestone by a local resident, the mosasaur, now fossilized bones, was once a savage, sea-going lizard that lived during the Cretaceous period. It probably evolved from the former land animals which adapted to sea life, as the earth's conditions changed.
The mosasaur possessed powerful jaws and teeth, and averaged 20 feet in length.
Several vertebrae and portions of the skull were recovered by museum palaeontological crews. Ron Tillie, in charge of the crews, said the fossil will be prepared for exhibit or scientific research.
The burial site, reported by a Chaplin area resident, John Dyck, revealed the skeletal remains of an adult male, dating back approximately 150 years.
Although an aura of mystery frequently surrounds skeletons, museum archaeological crews, headed by Don Pingert, were particulary interested in this recent finding.
Upon excavation, it was found that the man had worn a patch over his left eye, his left arm arm was broken in two places, but had completely healed over, and the leg joint contained a .50 calibre musket ball. And, none of these misfortunes caused his death!
Buried with the man was what appeared to be a small bundle of goods, containing three musket balls, two gun flints, several worked flakes and a point tip.
Along his side was a T-shaped pipe and a badly deteriorated metal knife that appeared to have hung from his waist. Scattered alongside the body and in the area of the feet were white, green and blue beads suggesting that he wore bead-decorated clothes and moccasins.
Mr. Pingert estimated from the skull and teeth that the man was fairly old when he died, but the manner of death is a matter of speculation and imagination. The skeleton is now in the museum to be safe-guarded for future use.
Murv Baker, museum curator, said the two findings provide significant contributions to date on Saskatchewan's frontier and prehistoric times.
People who discover possible archaeological sites in their travels throughout the province are urged to make their findings known to the museum. Mr. Baker said this is one way the individual can contribute towards the preservation and indentification of Saskatchewan's historical resources.
