Locus 7 Site
Encyclopedia
The Locus 7 Site is an archaeological site
in Washington Township
, Fayette County
, Pennsylvania
, United States
. Located north of Fayette City
, the site lies on a bluff over Downers Run about 2000 feet (609.6 m) from the Monongahela River
. It is believed to be the location of a former Monongahela
village, but its date is uncertain; the village may have existed at any time between 900 and 1600. Its location on a bluff is unusual for Monongahela village sites, but this may have contributed to its preservation; most riverside Monongahela sites in the valley of the Monongahela River have been destroyed by development.
Small-scale archaeological investigation at the site has revealed a wide range of pottery
at the site, along with a significant amount of mussel
shells; it is believed that a more extensive excavation would yield evidence of small round houses and a stockade
. Such a large amount of potential findings has been theorized because of the limited disturbance that the site has seen: unlike most Monongahela sites in the region, it has been damaged only by surface cultivation by local farmers who used only horse-powered equipment.
Locus 7's archaeological significance was recognized in 1980 when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
.
Archaeological site
An archaeological site is a place in which evidence of past activity is preserved , and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology and represents a part of the archaeological record.Beyond this, the definition and geographical extent of a 'site' can vary widely,...
in Washington Township
Washington Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Washington Township is a township in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 4,461 at the 2000 census.Arnold City, Fairhope, Lynnwood, Pricedale, Gillepsie, Naomi, and Brownstown are area villages.-History:...
, Fayette County
Fayette County, Pennsylvania
Fayette County is a county located in the U.S. state of Pennsylvania. As of the2010 census, the population was 136,606. The county is part of the Pittsburgh Metropolitan Statistical Area....
, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Located north of Fayette City
Fayette City, Pennsylvania
Fayette City is a borough in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 714 at the 2000 census. It is served by the Belle Vernon Area School District....
, the site lies on a bluff over Downers Run about 2000 feet (609.6 m) from the Monongahela River
Monongahela River
The Monongahela River is a river on the Allegheny Plateau in north-central West Virginia and southwestern Pennsylvania in the United States...
. It is believed to be the location of a former Monongahela
Monongahela tribe
The Monongahela culture were a Native American cultural manifestation of Late Woodland peoples in present-day western Pennsylvania, eastern Ohio and West Virginia from AD 1050 to 1635...
village, but its date is uncertain; the village may have existed at any time between 900 and 1600. Its location on a bluff is unusual for Monongahela village sites, but this may have contributed to its preservation; most riverside Monongahela sites in the valley of the Monongahela River have been destroyed by development.
Small-scale archaeological investigation at the site has revealed a wide range of pottery
Pottery
Pottery is the material from which the potteryware is made, of which major types include earthenware, stoneware and porcelain. The place where such wares are made is also called a pottery . Pottery also refers to the art or craft of the potter or the manufacture of pottery...
at the site, along with a significant amount of mussel
Mussel
The common name mussel is used for members of several families of clams or bivalvia mollusca, from saltwater and freshwater habitats. These groups have in common a shell whose outline is elongated and asymmetrical compared with other edible clams, which are often more or less rounded or oval.The...
shells; it is believed that a more extensive excavation would yield evidence of small round houses and a stockade
Stockade
A stockade is an enclosure of palisades and tall walls made of logs placed side by side vertically with the tops sharpened to provide security.-Stockade as a security fence:...
. Such a large amount of potential findings has been theorized because of the limited disturbance that the site has seen: unlike most Monongahela sites in the region, it has been damaged only by surface cultivation by local farmers who used only horse-powered equipment.
Locus 7's archaeological significance was recognized in 1980 when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
.
See also
- List of Native American archaeological sites on the National Register of Historic Places in Pennsylvania
Further reading
- Michael, Ronald L. Archaeological and Historical Study of Legislative Route 1070, Sections B10-B90. N.p.: Pennsylvania Department of TransportationPennsylvania Department of TransportationThe Pennsylvania Department of Transportation oversees transportation issues in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The administrator of PennDOT is the Pennsylvania Secretary of Transportation, currently Barry Schoch Presently, PennDOT supports over of state roads and highways, about 25,000...
, 1977.