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QUARRY OF

THE ANCESTORS

The Quarry of the Ancestors site was identified during the initial
exploration and Historical Resource Impact Assessment for the
Muskeg Valley Quarry (Hammerstone Project) in 2003. The
importance of the discovery of this site was such that the entire
area around the outcrops was immediately established as an
“exclusion zone” by the predecessor company of Hammerstone
Corporation and the quarry development plan was modified to
avoid disturbance to the area.

Mitigation of the site continued and numerous small quarries,
workshops, and campsites dating from 9,500 – 7,500 years ago
were discovered.

This find is one of the oldest and most important sites in the
province. It reflects the history of complex First Nation settlement
in the Athabasca region.

The site possesses a high density of artifacts and is reflective
of a wide range of ancient cultural practices. Among the most
intriguing cultural materials excavated have been microblade
artifacts and spear points containing blood residue.

Further steps were taken to protect

the site and under Hammerstone
Corporation and in coordination with
FMFN, the “Quarry of the Ancestors”
was formally recognized as a

Provincial Historic Resource and listed
in the register of Canadian Historic
Places in 2012.

Limestone arrowhead from the Quarry of the Ancestors

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