The Thrifty Boutique thrift shop in Chilliwack, British Columbia, received a very unusual donation last year which included 13 ancient artifacts that could date back as far as the fourth or fifth century.
Initially, the thrift store put the items for sale at $30, but a patron who identified himself as an archeologist brought the items to the attention of the staff.
The unidentified thrifter recommended that they contact someone at Simon Fraser University's Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. The staff at the thrift store took the customer's advice and, as a result, donated the artifacts to the university, which included 11 rings and two medallions
The store's manager, Sandy Parker, told The Chronicle Journal,
Absolutely it's the most interesting thing that we've seen, just because of the history and the unknown.
The age and history of the artifacts is still a mystery, but one that the archaeology department at Simon Fraser University hopes to uncover in the near future.
Associate professor of archaeology, Sabrina Higgins, said in a statement,
It will take at least a semester - if not longer - to piece together the origins of these artifacts. We're fortunate to have access to cutting-edge research technologies within our department to properly study these objects, so it promises to be a rewarding journey for students.
The professor went on to note that even if the objects turn out to be forgeries, the unique donation would provide a great hands-on learning experience for her students.
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