Blackrock Springs Site facts for kids
|
Blackrock Springs Site
|
|
Overview, with the spring in the foreground
|
|
 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | Eastern side of the Blue Ridge at the source of Paine Run, Grottoes, Virginia |
|---|---|
| Area | 0.4 acres (0.16 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003169 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
|
| Added to NRHP | December 13, 1985 |
The Blackrock Springs Site (also known by its special code, 44-AU-167) is an exciting archaeological site. It is located in Shenandoah National Park in Augusta County, Virginia, United States. An archaeological site is a place where people lived or did things a long, long time ago. Scientists study these sites to learn about the past.
Contents
Discovering the Past
Scientists found the Blackrock Springs Site in the early 1970s. They were exploring Shenandoah National Park to find old places. This site was one of fifteen they found along a stream called Paine Run. Other important sites nearby include the Paine Run Rockshelter.
Where is the Site?
The site is found near where Paine Run starts, at a place called Blackrock Springs. It covers an area about 150 meters long and 60 meters wide. That's like a big sports field! But the old layers of dirt where artifacts are found are only about 5 centimeters deep.
How Old is Blackrock Springs?
People lived at the Blackrock Springs Site for a very, very long time. They started living there before 7000 BC. That's over 9,000 years ago! They continued to use the site until after 1000 BC. This means people were there for thousands of years.
What Did They Find?
Archaeologists found many interesting things at the site. One of the oldest items was a type of projectile point. This is like an arrowhead or spear tip. Most of the artifacts found were from a time called the Archaic period. This was a very important time for early people in North America.
Scientists found about three thousand items at the site. Most of these, about 98%, were pieces of a rock called quartzite. This rock was found nearby. The artifacts were not spread out evenly. Instead, they were found in several small groups.
What Was the Site Used For?
Because of what they found, scientists believe the site was a base camp. People living in the Shenandoah Valley and the Piedmont used it for thousands of years. They would come to this camp to hunt animals and gather plants for food on the mountainside. It was a good spot because of the nearby spring.
A Special Place in History
The Blackrock Springs Site is very important for understanding history. Its archaeological value is so high that it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in December 1985. This means it is a protected place because of its historical importance. The Paine Run shelter and site 44-AU-154 were also added at the same time.
