An Edmonton couple made a fascinating discovery in their front yard, uncovering a potential obsidian artifact that has captured the attention of archaeologists. Last year, Jennifer Yeoman and her husband Hector Lomack stumbled upon a peculiar black rock while landscaping their yard. The rock turned out to be a 4.6-pound chunk of obsidian core, a type of volcanic glass formed from rapidly cooled lava with minimal crystal growth.

Obsidian is not commonly found in Alberta due to the absence of volcanoes in the region. The couple’s discovery is particularly significant as it is one of the largest obsidian cores found in the province, with only one other rock of similar size documented to date.

For Yeoman, who had once aspired to be an archaeologist before becoming a mother, this find has reignited her passion for archaeology. She brought the artifact to the Royal Alberta Museum (RAM), where the archaeology team identified distinctive characteristics suggesting human craftsmanship. Kyle Forsythe, the curator of Archaeology at RAM, noted that the markings on the obsidian indicated it had been reshaped by pre-contact people to create tools like arrowheads.

If confirmed as authentic, this artifact could provide valuable insights into ancient trade networks and raw material preferences of past societies. Forsythe highlighted the significance of understanding the origins of the obsidian, emphasizing that it must have come from a region with volcanic activity.

The discovery has sparked further excavation and research by the archaeology team at RAM, shedding light on the potential historical significance of this obsidian artifact found in an unsuspecting Edmonton couple’s yard.