Rimrock Draw Rockshelter

Rimrock Draw Rockshelter is a rockshelter located in Eastern Oregon of the US. It is an archaeological site being studied by the University of Oregon under the guidance of Dr. Patrick O'Grady in coordination with the Museum of Natural and Cultural History[1] and in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM).[2]

Rimrock Draw Rockshelter
Rimrock Draw Rockshelter
Looking southeast along Rimrock Draw Rockshelter
LocationRiley, Oregon
RegionOregon, United States
TypeRockshelter
History
Culturesca. 18,000 Cal BP
Site notes
ArchaeologistsDr. Patrick O'Grady
OwnershipBureau of Land Management

It is notable for potentially being one of the oldest archaeological sites in North America.[1] Unpublished dates ranging from ca. 18,000 Cal BP to 17,000 Cal BP were identified by Dr. Thomas Stafford Jr. and Dr. John Southon.[1][3] The dated specimens were from camelid and bison teeth, respectively.[1] The animal bones were found in association with obsidian debitage.[1] According to a report by the BLM, stone tools and flakes were found below the stratigraphy of the dated animal teeth.[4]

In 2012, excavation encountered Mount St. Helens Sg tephra (~15,600 cal yr BP) overlaying camelops tooth fragments.[5] Ten centimeters below the teeth fragments an orange flake tool was collected.[5] In 2017, further orange debitage was found along with bison carpal and teeth fragments, and obsidian flakes, all suggesting a pre-Clovis occupation.[5]

See also

References
  1. O'Grady, Patrick (February 2022). "Rimrock Draw Rockshelter (35HA3855), Harney County, Oregon: A Synopsis of the Field Excavations" (PDF). Museum of Natural and Cultural History. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  2. Lerten, Barney (July 2023). "Testing yields new evidence of human occupation 18,000 years ago in Eastern Oregon". KTVZ.com. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  3. Bureau of Land Management (n.d.). "Testing yields new evidence of human occupation 18,000 years ago in Oregon". BLM.gov. Retrieved July 9, 2023.
  4. BLM (July 2023). "Discovery: Evidence of human occupancy in Oregon 18,000 years ago". The Chronicle. Retrieved July 6, 2023.
  5. Smith, Geoffrey M.; Duke, Daron; Jenkins, Dennis L.; Goebel, Ted; Davis, Loren G.; O'Grady, Patrick; Stueber, Dan; Pratt, Jordan E.; Smith, Heather L. (2019-09-06). "The Western Stemmed Tradition: Problems and Prospects in Paleoindian Archaeology in the Intermountain West". 6 (1): 23–42. doi:10.1080/20555563.2019.1653153. Retrieved 4 September 2023. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)

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