A fossilized skull of an ichthyosaur, a marine reptile, has been unearthed in the Kiskatinaw River valley in British Columbia, approximately 52 kilometers south of Fort St. John. Kevin Geist and his 11-year-old son, Andreas, made the discovery two summers ago while exploring the riverbank in the fossil-rich Peace region.
The unusually low water levels in the Kiskatinaw River, attributed to a prolonged drought spanning four years, have led to the exposure of more rocks along its shoreline. Among these exposed rocks was the one containing the ancient ichthyosaur skull. Geist highlighted that the ongoing drought has caused the rocks to become more visible as they are no longer submerged underwater.
Initially unsure of the significance of the peculiar rock, Geist revisited the site this summer and shared images of the discovery with the Tumbler Ridge Museum upon the insistence of his sister-in-law, Diana Hofmann. The museum expressed keen interest in the finding, confirming it as an ichthyosaur.
Ichthyosaurs, distinct from dinosaurs, were marine reptiles resembling a blend of dolphins and fish, well-adapted to oceanic life and giving birth to their young in the sea. The Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation’s resident paleontologist, Eamon Drysdale, indicated that the skull likely dates back to the Triassic period, although the river valley’s geological age traces back to the Cretaceous era, a time when ichthyosaurs were declining.
The skull, encased in carbonate rock from the Triassic era, is believed to have been transported by a glacier into the river valley subsequent to the formation of the Rocky Mountains. Drysdale described the journey of the skull as quite remarkable given its geological history.
The Peace region in northeastern British Columbia boasts a rich fossil record spanning over 500 million years, reflecting a diverse range of Earth’s history. Drysdale emphasized the abundance of fossils in the area, showcasing a variety of specimens from different epochs for enthusiasts and casual explorers to discover.
While it remains uncertain if similar fossil treasures lie within the valley, the lowered water levels could potentially reveal more fossil-bearing rocks. Drysdale expressed optimism about the possibility of finding additional fossil material due to the glacier’s transport mechanism. The successful retrieval of the ichthyosaur skull involved an elaborate process, including an airlift by helicopter and subsequent transportation to the museum.
Drysdale mentioned previous discoveries of partial ichthyosaur specimens in Tumbler Ridge but noted the rarity of finding complete specimens. The collaborative effort involved in securing and studying the ichthyosaur fossil underscored the community’s involvement and enthusiasm for paleontological discoveries in the region.