Martz Rock Shelters facts for kids

The Martz Rock Shelters were an archaeological site in Pennsylvania, US. An archaeological site is a place where people lived or did things in the past. These shelters were found near Myersdale in Somerset County.

The site was on a farm owned by Harry Martz. In 1938, a group called the Somerset County Archaeological Survey started digging there. They worked for six days, from June 14th to June 20th.

The Martz Rock Shelters were discovered during a big project. This project was part of the Works Progress Administration, which helped people find jobs during the Great Depression. Workers were building a new highway, State Highway 219. The shelters were on a hill above the Casselman River. A rock ledge stuck out about 250 feet above the river. The openings of the shelters faced south. Sadly, the site was destroyed when the highway was built.

What Was Found at the Shelters?

When archaeologists dug at the Martz Rock Shelters, they found many interesting things. These items help us learn about the people who lived there long ago.

Here are some of the artifacts they discovered:

• charcoal and ash: These show that people made fires for cooking or warmth.
• flint, chert, and quartz spalls: These are small pieces of stone. People used them to make tools.
• Animal bones: These tell us what animals people hunted and ate.
• projectile points: These are the tips of spears or arrows.
• Potsherds: These are broken pieces of pottery.
• Scrapers: These were tools used to clean animal hides or prepare food.

It's interesting to note that chert and quartz are not naturally found in Somerset County. This means the people living at the shelters either traveled to get these stones or traded with other groups.

Life at the Martz Rock Shelters

The archaeologists dug down about three feet into the ground. This showed them how deep the layers of history were. Local stories always said that Native Americans lived at this site. The digging confirmed that people lived there a very long time ago. They lived there as early as other ancient sites in eastern Pennsylvania.

The findings suggest that the people at Martz Rock Shelters were a "subsistence based group." This means they mostly grew or found their own food to survive. They didn't rely on buying things from others.

Here are some things that show they were a subsistence group:

• They depended on maize (corn) for food. Corn was a very important crop.
• Their villages were built on high ground, above the river's floodplain. This kept their homes safe from floods.
• They used underground storage areas. These were like ancient pantries, keeping their food safe and cool.