Archaeologists probe oldest, deepest part of Meadowcroft Rockshelter

[left-of-center2012]

Archaeologists are looking for new clues at one of the oldest known sites of human habitation in North America. The rockshelter is known to be one of the oldest sites of human habitation in North America. Adovasio first excavated the site in 1973. Devlin Gandy, an archaeologist from St. John’s College at the University of Cambridge, and James M. Adovasio, the director of archaeology at Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, are conducting research at Meadowcroft Rockshelter in Avella, about an hour west of Pittsburgh in Washington County.

Meadowcroft Rockshelter, a National Historic Landmark, was first discovered as one of the first sites of human habitation in North America when a Washington County farmer found a prehistoric tool in what seemed to be a groundhog hole in 1955. The rockshelter was a campsite for early hunters and gathers nearly 19,000 years ago.

According to Gandy, there are many theories for how people came to populate the Americas and occupy Meadowcroft. The early dates at Meadowcroft indicate they didn’t come (to this site) through the interior of the continent, which would have been under miles of ice.

Through the studies, a line of over 16,000 years of environmental records was found that included climatic changes, plant and animal changes. The records then provided information on how humans adjusted through these times. “It appears as it did in the early ’70s, that people were at this spot long before they were supposed to be in the New World,” Adovasio said.

https://triblive.com/local/regional/archaeologists-probe-oldest-deepest-part-of-meadowcroft-rockshelter/

[wnylib]

1. I disagree with the claim that

"they didn't come (to this site) through the interior of the continent, which would have been under miles of ice."

True, they could not have moved from north to south through what is now Canada due to the ice. But if their ancestors followed a water route along the Pacific coast and then followed rivers and streams inland across the continent south of the glaciers, they would have found many places to make villages and hunting camps on the southern edges of the glaciers. Meadowcroft is probably just one of many such sites. I would expect to find evidence of some more settled sites not too far away from the temporary hunting camp site at Meadowcroft.

The edges of glaciers have cool moderate climates that are rich with water sources from glacial meltwaters. The waters, as pools, streams, and swamps, attract game animals for the water and for grazing on plant growth around the waters.

I would bet that more sites could be found in North America by searching, west to east, along areas that used to be on the southern edge of the glaciers.

[left-of-center2012]

2. "I disagree with the claim that ..."

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[wnylib]

3. What's the point of linking to the newspaper?

I could point out to them that their choice of words in saying "didn't come through the interior of the continent" is misleading in a way that suggests the writer didn't understand the topic he/she wrote about. Or, that their quote of Adovasio saying "whilst" is probably incorrect because he is an American who does not use that Britishism in his speech.

But my interest here is the archeological studies of Meadowcroft, not journalism.

I have met Dr. Adovasio and his staff in their offices and volunteered at one of his department's digs in northwestern PA that was required field practice for his students. No major (and very few minor) discoveries were made, but it was a great chance to discuss ideas and theories with experienced and knowledgeable people on the arrival of humans in North America. Their views pretty much coincided with what I said in my earlier post.

That was about 25 years ago. Your OP interested me in seeing what else they are finding at Meadowcroft.

That line about the inability to cross the interior of the continent caught my attention because it is often an opening line for people (usually white supremacists) who claim that the Americas were not populated by people from Asia. I am NOT saying that you or the newspaper subscribe to that view. I was just clarifying how it likely happened that people reached Meadowcroft so early since the article's writer was so vague and unclear about it.

[left-of-center2012]

4. okie dokie smokie