Fort Rock Cave
Encyclopedia
Fort Rock Cave was the site of the earliest evidence of human habitation in the U.S.
state of Oregon
prior to excavation of Paisley Caves
. Fort Rock Cave featured numerous well-preserved sagebrush sandals, ranging from 9,000 to 13,000 years old.
The cave
is located approximately 0.5 mi (0.8 km) west of Fort Rock on the Reub Long
ranch in Lake County
.
Fort Rock Cave was declared a National Historic Landmark
in 1961. It is located near Fort Rock State Natural Area.
archaeologist Luther Cressman
's 1938 excavations at Fort Rock Cave placed human habitation in Oregon as early as 13,200 years ago. Cressman's team also recovered numerous examples of sandals woven from sagebrush
bark below a layer of Mazama Ash
(deposited by the explosion forming Crater Lake
about 7600 years ago). Radiocarbon dating
of these sandals, now displayed at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History
in Eugene
and in the town of Fort Rock, has shown some to be over 10,000 years old. This sandal style is known as Fort Rock style, since they were first discovered there. This sandal style is distinct from other variants; they are flat, closed toed and have a twined sole. They have been found at other sites, such as Cougar Mountain and Catlow Caves, as well. Several other prehistoric artifacts have been found at Fort Rock Cave, including basketry and stone tools.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
state of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
prior to excavation of Paisley Caves
Paisley Caves
The Paisley Caves complex is a system of four caves in an arid, desolate region of south-central Oregon, United States. One of the caves may contain archaeological evidence of the oldest definitively-dated human presence in North America. The site was first studied by archeologists in the 1930s...
. Fort Rock Cave featured numerous well-preserved sagebrush sandals, ranging from 9,000 to 13,000 years old.
The cave
Cave
A cave or cavern is a natural underground space large enough for a human to enter. The term applies to natural cavities some part of which is in total darkness. The word cave also includes smaller spaces like rock shelters, sea caves, and grottos.Speleology is the science of exploration and study...
is located approximately 0.5 mi (0.8 km) west of Fort Rock on the Reub Long
Reub Long
Reuben Aaron Long was an Eastern Oregon rancher, author, and story teller. He was known throughout Oregon as a witty and wise cowboy philosopher. In 1964, he joined E.R. Jackman to write The Oregon Desert, which is still a very popular book forty years after its original publication.-Rancher:Reub...
ranch in Lake County
Lake County, Oregon
Lake County is a county in the high desert south central region of the U.S. state of Oregon, so named for the many lakes found within its boundaries, including Lake Abert, Hart Lake Reservoir, and Goose Lake. While Lake is among Oregon's largest counties, it is sparsely populated with 7,895...
.
Fort Rock Cave was declared a National Historic Landmark
National Historic Landmark
A National Historic Landmark is a building, site, structure, object, or district, that is officially recognized by the United States government for its historical significance...
in 1961. It is located near Fort Rock State Natural Area.
Archaeology
University of OregonUniversity of Oregon
-Colleges and schools:The University of Oregon is organized into eight schools and colleges—six professional schools and colleges, an Arts and Sciences College and an Honors College.- School of Architecture and Allied Arts :...
archaeologist Luther Cressman
Luther Cressman
Luther Sheeleigh Cressman was an American anthropologist. He is known as the father of Oregon anthropology....
's 1938 excavations at Fort Rock Cave placed human habitation in Oregon as early as 13,200 years ago. Cressman's team also recovered numerous examples of sandals woven from sagebrush
Artemisia tridentata
Artemisia tridentata is a shrub or small tree from the family Asteraceae. Some botanists treat it in the segregate genus Seriphidium, as S. tridentatum W. A. Weber, but this is not widely followed...
bark below a layer of Mazama Ash
Mazama Ash
The Mazama Ash is a large geologically recent volcanic ash deposit that covers portions of the U.S. states of California, Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming and Utah, as well as the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and southwestern Saskatchewan...
(deposited by the explosion forming Crater Lake
Crater Lake
Crater Lake is a caldera lake located in the south-central region of the U.S. state of Oregon. It is the main feature of Crater Lake National Park and famous for its deep blue color and water clarity. The lake partly fills a nearly deep caldera that was formed around 7,700 years agoby the...
about 7600 years ago). Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. Raw, i.e. uncalibrated, radiocarbon ages are usually reported in radiocarbon years "Before Present" ,...
of these sandals, now displayed at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History
University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History
The University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History, commonly known as the UO Natural History Museum, is an American natural history museum at the University of Oregon in Eugene...
in Eugene
Eugene, Oregon
Eugene is the second largest city in the U.S. state of Oregon and the seat of Lane County. It is located at the south end of the Willamette Valley, at the confluence of the McKenzie and Willamette rivers, about east of the Oregon Coast.As of the 2010 U.S...
and in the town of Fort Rock, has shown some to be over 10,000 years old. This sandal style is known as Fort Rock style, since they were first discovered there. This sandal style is distinct from other variants; they are flat, closed toed and have a twined sole. They have been found at other sites, such as Cougar Mountain and Catlow Caves, as well. Several other prehistoric artifacts have been found at Fort Rock Cave, including basketry and stone tools.
Historical Society
In February of 1984, the Fort Rock Valley Historical Society was formed to help preserve the town around the archaeological site. Four years later the Fort Rock Homestead Village Museum was formed.See also
- Kennewick ManKennewick ManKennewick Man is the name for the skeletal remains of a prehistoric man found on a bank of the Columbia River in Kennewick, Washington, USA, on July 28, 1996...
, skeletal remains discovered in the Pasco Basin - Marmes RockshelterMarmes RockshelterThe Marmes Rockshelter is an archaeological site first excavated in 1962, near the confluence of the Snake and Palouse Rivers, in Franklin County, southeastern Washington. This rockshelter is remarkable in the level of preservation of organic materials, the depth of stratified deposits, and the...
, on the lower Snake River - Paisley CavesPaisley CavesThe Paisley Caves complex is a system of four caves in an arid, desolate region of south-central Oregon, United States. One of the caves may contain archaeological evidence of the oldest definitively-dated human presence in North America. The site was first studied by archeologists in the 1930s...
, also in eastern Oregon, the site of perhaps the oldest human remains in the Americas
External links
- Fort Rock Cave information from Oregon Parks and Recreation DepartmentOregon Parks and Recreation DepartmentThe Oregon Parks and Recreation Department , officially known as the State Parks and Recreation Department, is the government agency of the U.S. state of Oregon which operates its system of state parks...
- history