Lowder's Ferry site facts for kids

The Lowder's Ferry site is a special place in Stanly County, North Carolina. It's an archaeological site, which means it's a spot where scientists study things left behind by people who lived there a very long time ago. At Lowder's Ferry, they found clues from the Archaic period in North America.

Discovering Ancient Life at Lowder's Ferry

The Lowder's Ferry site is located on the west bank of the Yadkin River. This is right across from where the Uwharrie River joins it. Today, this important site is part of Morrow Mountain State Park.

What is the Archaic Period?

The Archaic period was a long time ago, from about 8,000 to 1,000 BC. During this time, people in North America were hunter-gatherers. This means they hunted animals and gathered plants for food. They moved around a lot, following food sources.

Why is Lowder's Ferry Important?

The Lowder's Ferry site was one of the first three places in North Carolina to help archaeologists understand the Middle Archaic period. This part of the Archaic period lasted from about 6000 to 3000 BC. By studying the different styles of spear points found at Lowder's Ferry and other sites, scientists could create a timeline. This timeline helps them divide and understand the Middle Archaic period better.

How Was the Site Explored?

In 1948, a student named Paul Strieff did some tests at the site. He found signs that ancient people had lived there during the Archaic period. The site was going to become a parking lot. In the spring of 1949, when the ground was being prepared, many ancient pits were uncovered.

Work stopped so that archaeologists could investigate. They quickly realized the site was full of amazing discoveries! So, archaeological work continued all summer. Five large trenches were dug to explore the area.

Later that year, from September to December, Barton Wright from the University of Arizona continued the excavation. He was able to understand the stratigraphy of the site. Stratigraphy is like reading layers in a cake. Each layer of soil tells a story about a different time period. Barton Wright could separate the older Middle Archaic layers from the newer Late Archaic layers.

Lowder's Ferry Today

Even though it's very important, the Lowder's Ferry site is now covered by a parking lot. It doesn't get as much attention as the nearby Doerschuk Site, which is also a significant archaeological spot.