Provincial Heritage Property
Pasquia Palaeontological Site, Jordon River
Arborfield RM 456, Saskatchewan
Also known as Carrot River Palaeontological Site
Excavating the fossil site, winter, 1991.
Photo: Government of Saskatchewan, Royal Saskatchewan Museum, 1991.
- Recognized
- 1995
- By
- Government of Saskatchewan
The register’s text, word for word
Description
The Pasquia Palaeontological Site, Jordan River is a Provincial Heritage Property consisting of 100 hectares of land adjoining the south bank of the Carrot River near the Town of Carrot River. The site features exceptional deposits of Cretaceous-age marine fossils that were discovered in sediments eroding from the riverbank.
Heritage value
The heritage value of the Pasquia Palaeontological site resides in the scientific information it reveals regarding the species and paleo-environment of a little known period of Saskatchewan’s geologic history. Fossils collected from the site represent the best record in Canada of vertebrate marine life from the period 92 to 95 million years ago. The quality and quantity of the marine fossils of this age are unmatched in North America. Among the sharks, cartilaginous and bony fish, and marine reptiles was a giant crocodilian (Terminonaris), the most complete and best-preserved of four such specimens known in North America. The site is also important for fossils of a group of toothed, non-flying aquatic birds, the oldest and most abundant collection of its kind, and for fossils of other species new to science.
Sources:
Province of Saskatchewan, Notice of Intention to Designate as Provincial Heritage Property under The Heritage Property Act, March 9, 1995.
Province of Saskatchewan, Order to Designate as Provincial Heritage Property under The Heritage Property Act, July 13, 1995.
Character‑defining elements
The heritage value of the Pasquia Palaeontological Site, Jordan River resides in the following character-defining elements:
-the stratigraphic sequence of sediments on and adjacent to the south bank of the Carrot River, particularly the Cretaceous age shales, and their contained fossils.
End of the register’s text
Location
Arborfield RM 456, Saskatchewan, S0E, Canada
53.17196° N, 103.52240° W
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From the Canadian Register of Historic Places, as last updated on December 12, 2025. The register’s text is shown word for word.