Mile Canyon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Mile Canyon
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Postcard depiction, 1908
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| Location | Address restricted |
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| Nearest city | Langtry, Texas |
| Area | 150 acres (61 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 70000773 |
| Added to NRHP | October 15, 1970 |
Mile Canyon, also known as Eagle Nest Canyon, is a special place in Texas. It's a smaller canyon that joins the big Rio Grande river. This happens near the town of Langtry, Texas.
The canyon was first called Mile Canyon because it's about one mile long. Later, people started calling it Eagle Nest Canyon. This new name came from a pair of golden eagles that built their nest nearby. For over a hundred years, scientists have explored this canyon. They study its rocks and look for clues about people who lived there long ago.
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Environment of Mile Canyon
Mile Canyon is located at the edge of the Chihuahuan Desert. This is a large, dry area that stretches across parts of the United States and Mexico. The canyon's location means it has unique plants and animals.
Ancient Life in Mile Canyon
Mile Canyon is very important for understanding ancient times. It has many old sites where people lived. These include dry rock shelters (natural caves or overhangs). There are also piles of burned rocks called middens. These piles show where people cooked and lived. You can also find outdoor cooking areas, sometimes called "hearth" fields.
The canyon is famous for several natural shelters. These include Bonfire Shelter, Kelly Cave, and Eagle Cave. Native Americans used these shelters up to 13,500 years ago.
The Bonfire Shelter Bison Jump
Bonfire Shelter is a very special part of Mile Canyon. It has a prehistoric bison jump. This is where ancient hunters used clever methods to hunt large herds of bison. They would drive the bison off the cliff edge. The animals would fall and die below.
After the hunt, the Native Americans would use every part of the bison. They got food, made clothing, and created tools. These bison jumps happened a very long time ago. Some were as early as 9700 BC. The most recent ones were around 800 BC.
Protecting Mile Canyon's History
Mile Canyon was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1970. This is a list of places in the United States that are important to history. The historic area covers about 1,500 acres (6 square kilometers). All of this land is privately owned.
Today, scientists are still studying the many ancient sites in the canyon. A team from Texas State University is doing this research. Their work is part of a bigger project called the Ancient Southwest Texas Project. They are learning more about the Lower Pecos Canyonlands.
