Research Cave facts for kids

Research Cave, also known as the Arnold Research Cave or the Saltpetre Cave, is an important Native American archaeological site. It is located near Portland, Missouri. Scientists have found proof that people lived here up to 8,000 years ago. The cave became a special National Historic Landmark in 1964. However, it has been suggested that it lose this title because some people have damaged the site by taking things from it.

Exploring Research Cave

This cave is found in a sandstone rock outcrop. It is about two miles north of Portland, overlooking the Missouri River. Research Cave is much more than just a rock shelter. It has inner rooms that you can reach through low passages.

When settlers arrived in the early 1800s, one person named John Phillips started mining saltpetre from the cave. Saltpetre was used to make gunpowder. Later, a person named H.A. Arnold owned the cave for a long time. This is why it is often called Arnold Research Cave.

What We Found Inside the Cave

Archaeologists became interested in the cave in the mid-1950s. They found many different items that are between 7,000 and 10,000 years old. The discoveries from this cave are special because they include very old examples of footwear. For instance, a pair of leather-wrapped moccasins found here are about 5,500 years old. These are some of the oldest human clothing items found in North America.

Why the Cave Is Important

Over time, the cave has been disturbed in several ways. Animals digging burrows have moved some of the old layers. Also, people who lived in the cave later sometimes moved older materials around. By the early 1980s, changes made by the property owner near the cave entrance also affected some of the historical items. This makes it harder for archaeologists to study the past, as the layers of history are mixed up.