Mount Jasper Lithic Source facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Mt. Jasper Lithic Source
|
|
 |
|
 Location in New Hampshire
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 11⁄2 mi. NW of confluence of Dead R. and Androscoggin R., Berlin, New Hampshire |
|---|---|
| Area | 38.5 acres (15.6 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 92000631 |
| Added to NRHP | May 29, 1992 |
The Mount Jasper Lithic Source is a very old place in Berlin, New Hampshire, where Native Americans used to get special rocks. It's on the side of Mount Jasper, north of the city. This site is special because it's one of the only places in the eastern United States where we know Native Americans dug deep into the ground for rocks before Europeans arrived.
The mountain has a type of rock called rhyolite. This rock was great for making strong stone tools. At this site, there's a mine shaft about 30 feet (9 meters) deep. There are also workshops at the bottom and top of the mountain. This important historical site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.
Contents
What is the Mount Jasper Site?
Mount Jasper is a small mountain. It is about 1.5 miles northwest of where the Dead River and Androscoggin River meet. The top of the mountain is about 1,584 feet (483 meters) above sea level. Its base near the Dead River is about 1,040 feet (317 meters) high. The mountain has a steep, rocky side near its top. The rocks in the mountain include layers of rhyolite.
The city of Berlin owns this site. It covers a triangle-shaped area from the mountain's top down to the Dead River. The main parts of the site include short mine shafts. These shafts follow the layers of rhyolite near the top of the mountain. There are also workshop areas. These are found at both the top and the base of the mountain, facing the river. The deepest mine is about 30 feet (9 meters) deep. There is also much proof that other exposed layers of rhyolite were dug out a lot.
Why is Mount Jasper Important?
This site is very important for history and archaeology. It was a major source of rhyolite rock. People in the 1800s first realized that Native Americans used this stone.
Ancient Stone Tool Workshops
Archaeologists studied the area in the 1980s. They found places where Native Americans dug out the stone. They also found workshops. These were places where they made finished tools, like arrowheads and spear points.
Evidence of Ancient Mining
Findings from Mount Jasper and other sites show that this was a source of stone for tools as far back as 9,000 years ago. It is unique in the eastern United States. This is because the Native Americans working here actually dug tunnels into the mountain. Tools made from stone found here have been discovered at archaeological sites all over the northeastern United States.
