Gray Burial Site Explained

Gray Burial Site
Type:Burial grounds
Coordinates:50.343°N -107.8785°W
Location:Swift Current, Saskatchewan, Canada
Founded: 3000 BC
Designation1:National Historic Site of Canada
Designation1 Date:November 15, 1973

Gray Burial Site is an Oxbow complex burial ground located near Swift Current, Saskatchewan. It is notable for being an Aboriginal burial ground located on the Canadian prairies and being one of the oldest sites of this type found.

History

The site was discovered in 1963 on a farm near Swift Current, with archaeological work beginning in 1969.[1] [2] Later excavations uncovered remains of 304 bodies.[3] The site was designated a National Historic Site of Canada in 1973, as it is one of the oldest indigenous burial grounds in the Canadian Prairies. In 2012, 87 burials with the remains of about 154 individuals had been identified.

Notes and References

  1. News: Waiser. Bill. 9 June 2015. Saskatchewan's oldest graveyard is ancient. Saskatoon StarPhoenix. Saskatoon. 15 July 2021.
  2. Wade. William D.. 1981. Temporal and Biological Dimensions of The Gray Site Population. Canadian Journal of Archaeology. 5. 119–130. 41058606. 15 July 2021.
  3. R.E. Morlan. 2001. Quaternary Dates and Vertebrate Faunas in Saskatchewan. 26. 15 July 2021.