Paleo-Indian Rockshelter in Pennsylvania - The first Americans camped under this rockledge at Meadowcroft

14,000 BC or older?

Early Americans used this rock ledge in Southwestern Pennsylvania for shelter as far back as 16,000 years ago.

One theory is that early settlers from northeast Asia entered North America by walking across a land bridge in the Bering Strait. It is thought that this land link between Siberia and Alaska was exposed during the last ice age. Some archaeologists believe this happened around 10,000 B.C.

But then comes the twist. Some items found at the Meadowcroft Rockshelter have been carbon dated at 19,000 years old. Therefore, a second school of thought is that immigrants arrived in North America much earlier.

OVERVIEW OF EARLY SETTLERS
	Map at the visitor's center shows the route of early settlers from Northeast Asia
Paleo-Indians are shown on an arrowhead chart dating them at 10,000 BC
	The Cross Creek watershed allowed for easy passage to the Ohio River
Looking down at Cross Creek from the rockshelter platform
	The large sandstone ledge provided shelter from the weather. It also had the benefit of natural warmth from the sun by facing south
The newly renovated visitor area is reached by climbing up 90 steps

THE MEADOWCROFT ROCKSHELTER
	Looking down from the top of the area that archaeologists, led by Dr. James M. Adovasio, began examining in 1973
The round white tags used to mark the various layers are approximately 100 years apart in time
	Close up of one recent area
At the center right of the photo is the remainder of the original roof that protected this archaeological dig
	MEADOWCROFT ROCKSHELTER NATIONAL HISTORIC LANDMARK 2005
Dr. Adovasio teaches at Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa Mercyhurst Archaeological Institute (MAI)
	MEADOWCROFT ROCKSHELTER A deeply stratified archaeological site, its deposits span nearly 16,000 years. Discovered in 1973 by Albert Miller and excavated by University of Pittsburgh archaeologists. Meadowcroft revealed North America's earliest known evidence of human presence and the New World's longest sequence of human occupation. All of eastern North America's major cultural stages appear in its remarkably complete archaeological record. Marker details

MEADOWCROFT HISTORIC VILLAGE ARTIFACTS
	Nutting Stone Used to hold nuts so they could be easily broken open
Brewerton Side Notched Points Point type found in most Ohio Valley area campsites
	Roseberry Barbershop
Fowler Store exhibit
	Display inside the general store
Meadowcroft Historic Village contains many more buildings of historical significance

Searchable Google Map to the Meadowcroft Rockshelter
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Dr. James M. Adovasio's book: "The First Americans - In Pursuit of Archaeology's Greatest Mystery" Indian Mound in Moundsville, WV National Pike Steam Show Pennsylvania History and Travel pages

MEADOWCROFT ROCKSHELTER