Fort Rock Cave facts for kids
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Fort Rock Cave
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University of Oregon archaeological excavations at Fort Rock Cave, 1966
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| Location | Address restricted |
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| Nearest city | Fort Rock, Oregon |
| NRHP reference No. | 66000641 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1966 |
| Designated NHL | January 20, 1961 |
Fort Rock Cave is a very old cave in Oregon. It is famous because scientists found some of the earliest signs of people living in Oregon here. They discovered amazing ancient sandals made from plants! These sandals are super old, some are even 13,000 years old. Before another place called Paisley Caves was explored, Fort Rock Cave had the oldest proof of humans in Oregon.
The cave is about 1.5 miles west of a place called Fort Rock. It is also close to the Fort Rock State Natural Area in Lake County. Fort Rock Cave was named a National Historic Landmark in 1961. This means it is a very important historical place in the United States. It was also added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1966. The cave was found on Reub Long's ranch.
Contents
Discovering Ancient Life at Fort Rock Cave
In 1938, an archaeologist named Luther Cressman from the University of Oregon started digging at Fort Rock Cave. His team found proof that people lived in Oregon as far back as 13,200 years ago. This was a huge discovery!
The Famous Sagebrush Sandals
Cressman's team found many well-preserved sandals. These sandals were made from the bark of a plant called sagebrush. They were found under a layer of ash from a volcano. This ash came from the explosion that formed Crater Lake about 7,600 years ago.
Scientists used a method called Radiocarbon dating to find out how old the sandals were. This method measures how much carbon is left in old materials. The tests showed that some sandals were more than 10,000 years old!
What Fort Rock Sandals Look Like
The sandals found at Fort Rock Cave are very special. They are known as the "Fort Rock style" because they were first found here. These sandals are flat and have closed toes. Their soles are made from twisted plant fibers.
Similar sandals have also been found at other ancient sites. These include Cougar Mountain and Catlow Caves. You can see some of the original Fort Rock sandals today. They are on display at the University of Oregon Museum of Natural and Cultural History in Eugene. You can also see them in the town of Fort Rock.
Other Ancient Finds
Besides the sandals, other ancient items were found at Fort Rock Cave. These include pieces of Basketry and stone tools. These artifacts help us learn more about the early people who lived in Oregon.
