Cliff Kill Site facts for kids
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Cliff Kill Site
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Looking up from the bottom of the site
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 Location in Virginia
Location in the United States
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| Location | Source of Hogcamp Branch at the edge of Big Meadows, near Luray, Virginia |
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| Area | 0.1 acres (0.040 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 85003153 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 15, 1985 |
The Cliff Kill Site is an exciting archaeological site located in Shenandoah National Park in Virginia, United States. It's like a special outdoor museum where scientists study the past. People who found the site thought it might have been a place where ancient hunters used a trick called a buffalo jump. This means they might have guided animals off a cliff to hunt them.
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Discovering the Site
Scientists first found and recorded the Cliff Kill Site in the early 1970s. This was part of a big project to explore and map all the important historical places in Shenandoah National Park.
Where is Cliff Kill?
The site is found on the eastern side of a large open area called Big Meadows. Right next to it is a cliff about 10 meters (33 feet) high. Big rocks mark the northern edge of the site. Also, a small stream starts nearby, forming the eastern and southern borders.
What Scientists Found
Archaeologists dug small test holes at the Cliff Kill Site. They wanted to see what ancient items were hidden underground. They found fewer artifacts here compared to other sites. Only seventy-one items were discovered.
Tools and Materials
Almost half of the items found were broken pieces of stone tools. It was hard to tell what these tools were originally used for. Most of the tools, over three-quarters, were made from a strong rock called quartzite.
Clues from Projectile Points
Some pieces were parts of projectile points, like arrowheads or spear tips. These pieces helped scientists figure out when people lived there.
- Three pieces were from the middle to late Archaic period. This time was thousands of years ago.
- One piece was from the Woodland period. This period was much more recent than the Archaic period.
What Was the Site Used For?
Because so few tools were found, scientists think the Cliff Kill Site was not a main living area. It probably wasn't a place where people stayed for a long time. They also noticed that some stone flakes had been reused. There was no sign that new stone tools were made there.
A Special Hunting Camp
Scientists believe the site was used as a special hunting camp. Hunters might have visited it only when they needed to hunt. If it was a buffalo jump, animals would have been hunted at the bottom of the cliff. Then, the meat would have been taken away to another place to be eaten. This idea is why the site was named "Cliff Kill."
A Protected Place
In 1985, the Cliff Kill Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This is a special list of important historical places in the United States. It was recognized for its value in helping us understand ancient human history.
