SFU researching ancient artifacts found at B.C. thrift store

Researchers at Simon Fraser University are hoping to uncover the history of a collection of artifacts discovered on sale at a Chilliwack thrift store for just $30.

Sabrina Higgins, a professor of archeology at SFU, says the right person found the artifacts at the right time.

“I guess what happened was an archeologist came into the store, saw this collection on display, and said, ‘You really need to contact someone,’” Higgins told The Leader Spirit.

The full set, including 11 rings and two medallions, was contributed by the Chilliwack Hospice Society — a charity that operates the thrift store.

“It’s really exciting to try to think about what the stories that will emerge from this research might be,” added Barbara Hilden, director of the SFU Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology.

Higgins believes the artifacts could date back to the fifth or sixth century AD. As for the task of confirming their origins, that work will come down to the efforts of SFU students in the fall of 2026.

“I think it can be anywhere from the late antique period… all the way up into the medieval period. But that’s all part of this really unique experience about having a collection that has no provenance — which means we don’t know where they came from.”

Students will also investigate whether they are true timeless classics or something more contemporary.

Hilden says the objects could be forgeries.

“But the science that the students undertake will be able to tell us that too.”

The SFU course will culminate in an exhibition at its museum, focusing on the history and biography of the artifacts, as well as the ethical considerations that archeologists and museums face.