Dutchess Quarry Cave Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dutchess Quarry Cave Site
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Looking into the quarry from across Route 17A, 2007
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | Town of Goshen, NY |
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| Nearest city | Middletown |
| Area | 177 acres (71 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 74001289; 97000512 |
| Added to NRHP | 1974; boundaries increased 1997 |
The Dutchess Quarry Cave Site is a very important place in Orange County, New York. It's located near the town of Goshen. This site is special because it holds clues about people who lived there a very long time ago, during the Ice Age.
Contents
A Glimpse into the Ice Age
What Was Found?
In the 1960s, archaeologists (scientists who study old things) explored caves at this site. They found amazing artifacts, which are tools and objects left behind by ancient people. These people were hunter-gatherers, meaning they hunted animals and gathered plants for food.
One of the most exciting finds was a "fluted point." This is a special kind of stone tool used for hunting, like a spearhead. It was made by Paleo-Indians, who were some of the first people to live in North America.
The tools found at Dutchess Quarry Cave Site are about 12,000 years old. This means people lived there during the last Ice Age. When it was first discovered, this site was the oldest of its kind found east of the Mississippi River.
Why Is It Important?
The Dutchess Quarry Cave Site helps us understand how early people lived in North America. It shows us what tools they used and how they survived during the Ice Age. Because of its importance, the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. Its protected area was made larger in 1997.
The Quarry and the Caves
Working Together
The Dutchess Quarry Cave Site is located next to an active quarry. A quarry is a place where rocks and minerals are dug out of the ground. The Dutchess Quarry and Supply Company digs for dolomite gravel here.
Over the years, the quarry's operations have grown. This means they are working closer to the important cave site. When the company needs to do blasting (using explosives to break up rock), they watch the caves very carefully.
Orange County has set aside a special preserve. This preserve protects the most important 20 acres (4 ha) of the 177-acre (71 ha) site. This helps keep the ancient artifacts safe.
Protecting the Future
Archaeologists are concerned about an area called the Alpine Meadow. This area might have even more ancient artifacts. However, it also contains valuable dolomite rock that the quarry could mine.
Researchers hope the county can protect this area. They want the county to get a "conservation easement" on the cave site. This would legally protect the land from certain types of development. They also want it included in the county's Open Space Plan.
The quarry company has been digging gravel on the property since 1938. They say they are open to solutions that don't stop their mining work.
Visiting the Site
The Dutchess Quarry Cave Site is not open to the public. This is because of the ongoing quarrying operations. The person who used to give tours left the area in 2004.
