A collection of projectile point artifacts found by Harry Christensen on the family farm near the community of Dalum (49 minutes west of Strathmore) is being donated to the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton. The artifacts are estimated to be between 2,000 to 4,600 years old. 

Christensen is 98 years old and was born and raised on a family farm near Dalum but has since moved to a care facility in Calgary to be closer to his family. He still remembers where he had found the first artifact.

"It was in the county schoolyard (Dalum School) when I was trapping gophers. There was one that was trapped in a hole and then I saw a funny-looking rock on the mound that was in the hole....then I picked up the arrowhead." 

ARROWHEADSHarry Christensen's collection of Arrowheads

Christensen says that was around 1938 or 1939 and then he happened upon a second arrowhead just days later. In total, Harry estimates he found around 30 or 40 arrowheads by 1979 to 1980; most of his collection was found on the farm.

Christensen's nephew, Harold Whittaker, was the one who asked him if it was okay if he considered donating his collection to the Royal Alberta Museum in Edmonton. Then he decided to reach out to the Curator of Archaeology at the Royal Alberta Museum, Kyle Forsythe, regarding the collection and they were delighted to have donated.

"I think it's just wonderful to have them in this museum, and I think that was a great thing to do," Christensen said. 

The arrowheads were to be mailed to the Royal Alberta Museum before the end of August where they will undergo additional examination of the physical artifacts.

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