Meadowcroft Rockshelter
Introduction
Meadowcroft Rockshelter is an archaeological site located near Avella in Jefferson Township, Washington County, Pennsylvania, United States. The site, a rock shelter in a bluff overlooking Cross Creek (a tributary of the Ohio River), is located 27 miles west-southwest of Pittsburgh in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. The site is recognized as the oldest known site of human habitation in North America and offers profound insights into the lives of prehistoric hunters and gatherers.
Discovery and Excavation
The Meadowcroft Rockshelter was discovered in November 1955 by Albert Miller, a farmer and history enthusiast. He discovered the site while hunting groundhogs on his family's property. Recognizing the potential significance of the site, Miller contacted the Carnegie Museum of Natural History in Pittsburgh. The site was initially investigated by the museum's curator of archaeology, James M. Adovasio, in 1973, with excavations continuing intermittently until 1989.
Archaeological Significance
The Meadowcroft Rockshelter has yielded a wealth of artifacts and remains that provide a unique glimpse into the lives of the region's earliest inhabitants. The site has yielded the largest collection of flora and fauna remains, along with stone tools, pottery, and a rare specimen of a prehistoric house, all of which have contributed significantly to our understanding of early human life in North America.
Radiocarbon Dating
One of the most significant aspects of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter is the age of the site. Radiocarbon dating of the site's artifacts and remains has consistently indicated an age of at least 16,000 years, making it the oldest known site of human habitation in North America. This has challenged the Clovis First Theory, which posits that humans first arrived in the Americas around 13,000 years ago.
Controversy and Debate
The age of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter has been a subject of controversy among archaeologists. Critics argue that the radiocarbon dates are inaccurate due to possible contamination by coal particles from a nearby coal-fired power plant. However, proponents of the site's antiquity argue that rigorous testing and analysis have ruled out such contamination.
Legacy and Preservation
Today, the Meadowcroft Rockshelter is a National Historic Landmark and is part of the Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village museum. The site continues to be a subject of research and study, and its findings continue to contribute to our understanding of early human life in North America.