Squirrel Hill Site facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Squirrel Hill Site
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Fields near the site
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | West of New Florence near the banks of the Conemaugh River in St. Clair Township, Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 1 acre (0.40 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003647 |
| Added to NRHP | March 26, 1980 |
The Squirrel Hill Site is a really cool archaeological site in Pennsylvania, United States. It is located in St. Clair Township, which is west of the town of New Florence. Long ago, this place was home to a large village of the Monongahela people. They lived here before Europeans arrived in America.
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What is the Squirrel Hill Site?
This ancient village site sits on a high piece of land. It is above the Conemaugh River, which flows nearby. The site is named after Squirrel Hill, a big hill close to New Florence.
Farmers have used this land for a long time. When they plowed the fields, they often found many old objects. This showed people that something special was buried there. The soil in a large area is also much darker than usual. This suggests that many people lived there for a long time.
Discoveries at the Site
Archaeologists have studied the Squirrel Hill Site. They found it was one of the biggest Monongahela villages in the Ohio River valley. It was likely built like other Monongahela villages. There would have been round houses grouped around a central open space. A strong stockade (a fence made of tall wooden posts) probably surrounded the village.
Many different items have been found at the site. These include tools made from flint stone. Pieces of pottery have also been discovered. There are also many bone fragments from animals. The Monongahela people often buried their dead inside their villages. So, archaeologists expect to find human burials here too.
Why is the Site Important?
The Squirrel Hill Site has not been disturbed much over the years. Farmers have plowed the land, but most of the important artifacts are buried deeper. A small dirt road crosses the property. However, experts believe that the items below the plowing depth are still in good condition.
Many other Monongahela villages from this time period are not as well preserved. This makes the Squirrel Hill Site very special. It is a great place to learn more about the Monongahela people. This period of their history is not very well known.
National Recognition
Because of its great archaeological value, the Squirrel Hill Site was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1980. This means it is a very important historical place. About one acre of the site was included in this special recognition. This area includes land on both sides of the small dirt road.
