A marine reptile known as an ichthyosaur’s fossilized skull has been unearthed in the Kiskatinaw River valley of British Columbia, approximately 52 kilometers south of Fort St. John. Kevin Geist and his 11-year-old son Andreas stumbled upon the skull two summers ago while exploring the river’s edge in the fossil-rich Peace region.
The prolonged drought in the area has caused the Kiskatinaw River to recede to record lows, exposing more rocks. Among these rocks, the ichthyosaur skull was discovered, with Geist attributing the find to the current drought conditions leading to increased rock exposure.
Initially uncertain about the significance of the rock, Geist’s sister-in-law, Diana Hofmann, shared pictures of it with the Tumbler Ridge Museum after a revisit this summer. The museum expressed keen interest in the discovery, subsequently confirming it as an ichthyosaur fossil.
Ichthyosaurs, distinct from dinosaurs, are ancient marine reptiles resembling a mix of dolphins and fish, well-suited for oceanic life and giving birth to their young in the sea. The museum’s resident paleontologist, Eamon Drysdale, revealed that the skull likely dates back to the Triassic period, despite the river valley originating from the Cretaceous era when ichthyosaurs were on the decline, making its location uncommon.
Having been encased in carbonate rock from the Triassic era, the skull likely ended up in the river valley post-Rocky Mountains formation due to glacial activity. Drysdale described the skull’s journey as quite remarkable, highlighting the diversity of fossils in the region, some dating back 500 million years, covering a substantial portion of Earth’s history.
The Peace region, known for its fossil richness, has yielded various discoveries, including dinosaur remnants and prehistoric footprints. Tumbler Ridge, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showcases these findings through exhibits and trails. Drysdale expressed optimism about potential further discoveries in the valley due to low water levels exposing more fossil-bearing rocks.
The secure retrieval of the skull involved an aerial lift by helicopter, generously funded by La Prairie Crane, with local operator Ridge Rotors facilitating the transportation. While Tumbler Ridge has previously recovered partial ichthyosaur specimens, complete findings are rare, with the region’s best example being a shonisaurus removed from the Sikanni Chief River in 2001.
Drysdale emphasized the collaborative nature of the recovery effort, underscoring the importance of local community involvement in fossil discoveries. The museum anticipates valuable insights from studying this specimen, eagerly awaiting the revelations it may offer about prehistoric marine life.