Pumpkin Creek Site facts for kids
The Pumpkin Creek Site (Lv-49) is an exciting archaeological spot in northern Love County, Oklahoma. This area is right near Oklahoma's border with Texas. The site dates back to the Archaic period, a very old time in North American history.
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What is the Pumpkin Creek Site?
The Pumpkin Creek Site is an important place where ancient people lived a long, long time ago. It's called an archaeological site because experts study old things found there to learn about the past. This site was used between 7,000 and 9,500 years ago. That's a really long time!
Why Was This Site Important?
People came to the Pumpkin Creek Site mainly to make tools. They found excellent quality stone here, perfect for crafting tools. Imagine them carefully shaping stones into useful items! After making what they needed, they would leave. But they always came back when they needed more tools. This shows the site was a key place for them.
How Big is the Site?
The Pumpkin Creek Site is about 2 acres (0.81 ha) in size. It sits on a hillside. Sadly, much of the original site has been lost. Experts believe only about 5% of it remains today. This is because of heavy erosion, which means the land has worn away over time.
What Did the Environment Look Like?
When people used the Pumpkin Creek Site, the area was different from today. There was more rain and lots of plants growing. This made it a good place for people to live and find resources.
When Was the Site Abandoned?
Around 7,000 years ago, people stopped using the Pumpkin Creek Site. The main reason was a big change in the weather. The region became very dry and arid, meaning it didn't get much rain. This made it hard for people to live there, so they moved on.
Where Are the Discoveries Now?
Many of the ancient tools and other items found at the Pumpkin Creek Site are now kept safe. They were given to the Stovall Museum. This museum is now known as the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History. These artifacts help us learn more about the people who lived in Oklahoma thousands of years ago.
