First Peoples: Archaeology at Meadowcroft Rockshelter · First Peoples: Archaeology at Meadowcroft...

FirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterASchool-ProgramsGuideforEducators

Thisprogramismadepossiblethroughthegeneroussupportofthe

ClaudeWorthingtonBenedumFoundation.

of30FirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterFirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterSchoolProgramsGuide

Thisprojectismadepossiblethroughthegeneroussupportofthe

ClaudeWorthingtonBenedumFoundation.

“Fromitsinception,theMeadowcroft/CrossCreekprojectwasamulti-disciplinaryundertaking.Thecentralgoalorthemewas,“thesystematicacquisition,analysisandintegrationofalldatabearingonthearchaeology,history,paleoecology,geology,geomorphology,pedology,hydrology,climatologyandfloralandfaunalsuccessionoftheentireCrossCreekdrainage.Moreover,thisdatagathering,analysis,andinterpretationwastobeexecutedwithasgreatadegreeofprecisionandemployingthemostsophisticatedmethodologiesofwhichanyoftheprojectstaffwerecognizant.Additionally,andtouscritically,thisresearchwascarriedoutvirtuallywithouttemporalorfiscalconstraints.Inshort,theprojectwasdesignedtoepitomizeso-called‘stateoftheart’datagatheringandanalyticalmethodologiesandprocedures.”

From“AnIntroductiontotheMeadowcroft/CrossCreekArchaeologicalProject1973-1982”inMeadowcroft:CollectedPapers


Contents......................................................................................................................................................................1

AboutMeadowcroftRockshelterandHistoricVillage.................................................................................3

AboutFirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter.................................................................4

IntersectionofMajorThemesandDisciplinesinFirstPeoplesProgramming.............................................5

FirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterOn-SiteProgram.................................................7

IntendedOutcomesofThematicOn-SiteExploration.............................................................................8

PreparingforanOn-SiteFirstPeoplesFieldTrip...................................................................................11

On-siteLogistics.....................................................................................................................................13

ChaperoneGuidetoMeadowcroftRockshelter.................................................................................15

FirstPeoplesVirtualSchoolPrograms........................................................................................................17

Videoconferencing.................................................................................................................................17

VideoconferenceThemesandOutcomes..........................................................................................17

PreparingforVideoconferencingFirstPeoplesLearningExperiences...............................................19

VirtualFieldTripsofMeadowcroftRockshelter.....................................................................................21

SignificanceofMeadowcroftRockshelter..................................................................................................22

GeologyInquiryatMeadowcroftRockshelter......................................................................................24

GeographyandEcologyoftheCrossCreekWatershed.........................................................................25

ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter.............................................................................................27

CulturalSignificanceofMeadowcroftRockshelter................................................................................29


AboutMeadowcroftRockshelterandHistoricVillageMeadowcroftRockshelterandHistoricVillage,whichoperatesinassociationwiththeSenatorJohn

HeinzHistoryCenter,isaNationalHistoricLandmarklocatedon275acresinAvella,PA.Thesiteisanoutdoorliving-historymuseumthatusesacombinationofreconstructedhistoricstructures,traditionalmuseumexhibits,andoutdoorinterpretiveareastotellthestoryaboutlifeinWesternPennsylvaniaduringthepast16,000years.

InterpretiveareasatMeadowcroftincludetheMeadowcroftRockshelter,oneoftheoldestdocumented

sitesofhumanhabitationinNorthAmerica;arecreated19thcenturyvillage;arecreated16thcenturyIndianVillage,andarecreated18thcenturyfrontiertradepost.On-siteandvirtualeducationalprogramsimmersestudentsinavarietyofdisciplinesthroughthelensof16,000yearsoflifeintheUpperOhioValley.

TOVISIT:

PleasevisitEducationalProgramsatMeadowcroftforinformationaboutSchoolprogramming.

TOVIEW:

ThefollowingvideoprovidesanexcellentoverviewofMeadowcroft’sinterpretiveareas:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2vSS9cQmOI(Runtimeis2:44).

TOEXPLORE:

ExploretheMeadowcroftwebsiteforashortvirtualexhibitabouttheMeadowcroftRockshelter.


AboutFirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter

FirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterisanongoingprojectofMeadowcroftRockshelterandHistoricVillage.Theprogramencompasseson-siteandvirtualeducationalexperiencesandresourcesdesignedtosupportinteractiveexplorationofMeadowcroftRockshelter.Abasicpremiseoftheprogramisthatallvisitorspossesstheinnateabilitytomakeobservationswhichserveasthefoundationforconstructingmeaningfromthesites,objects,andnaturalandrecreatedenvironmentsatMeadowcroft.

Thecurrentprogramistheextensionofa2007projectfundedbytheClaudeWorthingtonBenedumFoundation.Thisprogramresultedinarchaeologycurriculumforusein4th-8thgradeclassrooms.Beginninginautumn2014,Meadowcroftstaff,guidedbyanEducator’sAdvisoryTeam,reevaluatedexistingresourcesandcreatednewon-siteandvirtualMeadowcroftRockshelterschoolprograms.Theseprogramsfollowthemulti-disciplinaryapproachoftheRockshelterexcavation,focusingongeology,ecology,geography,andarchaeologytohelpexplaintheculturalsignificanceofthesite.

AtthecoreofthenewthematicprogrammingliesaseriesoffiveextremeresolutionGigaPanimagesoftheRockshelter.PartnersatCarnegieMallonUniversity’sCREATELabdevelopednewtechnologyplatformstooverlaymultimediainterestspotsontheimages.Theinterestspotsincludeaudioandvideointerviewswithexperts,animations,graphics,photographsandtextthatprovidecontextasstudentsorvisitorsinteractivelyexploretheRockshelterusingacomputer.Theresultingimagessupportmediated,unmediated,andtheme-basedinteractiveexplorations,encouragingstudentstobegintolookwiththeeyeofascientistinacompellingvisualmodethatisaccessible,responsivetoindividualinterestsandengaging.

Forthefirsttime,studentswhowillvisit,aswellasthosewhocannotphysicallyvisit,haveunprecedentedaccesstotheMeadowcroftRockshelterexcavation.TeacherscanguidestudentsthroughtheGigaPanphotographs,bolsteringtheirownknowledgewithessaysandresourcesintheFirstPeoplesTeacherGuides.Aselectionofstandards-alignedactivitysuggestionsoffersadditionalopportunitiesforexploration.Armedwithauthenticresourcesandvirtualaccesstotheexcavation,studentscanviewtheimages,connectwhattheyseewithdatafromthesite,anddrawtheirowninterpretations.


IntersectionofMajorThemesandDisciplinesinFirstPeoplesProgramming

MeadowcroftRocksheltercanbeusedtodiscussseveralthemesthatappearacrossacademicstandardsforPennsylvania,OhioandWestVirginia.Inmostcases,thethemesdrawfrommultipledisciplines.TheapproachoftheFirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRocksheltercurriculummodelsthemulti-disciplinaryapproachtakenbythearchaeologistswhoinvestigatedMeadowcroftRockshelter.

ThetablebelowsummarizestheintersectionofFirstPeoplesthemeswiththemajordisciplines.Grade-appropriateactivitysuggestionsareincludedinTeacher’sGuidesforeachthematicarea.

FirstPeoplesThemes

MajorDisciplinesaddressedinFirstPeoples

Science History EnvironmentandEcology

Geography TechnologyandEngineering

Geology NaturalstratigraphyexplainstheevolutionoftheRockshelterovertime.Physicalfeaturessuggesthowthelandscapewascreated.

Throughout16,000years,geologyhasservedasthefoundationforallhumanactivityatthesite.Atthemostbasic,therocksaroundMeadowcroftanchorallaspectsofthelandscapefromwhichhumansmettheirbasicneeds.

ThegeologicprocessesthatcreatedtheCrossCreekdrainageimpactedtheflowofwaterthroughoutthewatershed.Theslopeofthelandandproximitytowaterdictatetheecologyofthewatershed.

Topographyinfluencedhowprehistoricpeoplesmovedthroughthelandscape.Inthe20thand21stcenturies,energyextractionresultedindrastichumanalterationtothelandscape.

Lithic(stone)toolswerethebackboneofthePaleo-toolkit.Coalextractioninthe20thcenturyandnaturalgasextractiontodayaremajorindustries.

GeographyandEcology

Thetopographyoftheregiondictatedthemovementsofearlypeoples.Allaspectsofprehistoriclifeweredominatedbyclimaticconditionsandtheavailabilityofnaturalresources.Theprocessesthatcreatedandchangedthephysicallandscapearestillatplaytoday.

AllprehistorichumanactivityatMeadowcroftRockshelterwasdictatedbythetopographyoftheregionandavailabilityofnaturalresources.

TheCrossCreekdrainagedisplayedastable,temperateecologyduringthePleistocene,despitebeingonly80milessouthoftheglacialadvances.ThediverseecologyremainedstableuntiltheHistoricPeriod.

Thephysicalcharacteristicsandnaturalcharacteristicsofalandscapecontributetodiscussionsofhowpeopleusedandmodifiedthelandtomeettheirneeds.Thedecreasingavailabilityofnaturalresourcesandpopulationexplosionsresultedinshiftsfromforagingtohorticultural,thenagriculturaland

Abundantnaturalresourcesprovidedmaterialsforprehistorictools.Adaptationstotoolsandtechniqueswereinfluencedbythemovementofpeoplesandtheresponsetoenvironmentalconditions.


industrialcultures.

Archaeology Althoughoftengroupedwithsocialsciences,archaeologyusesscientificmethodologyandprocedurestounderstandthelivesofhumansinthepast.AttritionofthesandstonecliffanddepositionofsedimentscreatedthestratigraphyofMeadowcroftRockshelter(geology).Radiocarbonassaywasusedtoscientificallydateculturalevidenceatthesite.

Thepurposeofarchaeologicalinvestigationistorevealpatternsabouthumancultureoverperiodsoftime.

Geofactsandecofactscontributeevidencetothestudyofarchaeology,particularlyregardingtheavailabilityofnaturalresourcesandhumanresponsetoenvironmentalconditions.

Geographycontributesevidenceaboutthemovementofhumansthroughthelandscape,resourcedistribution,humancharacteristicsofthelandscape,andtheinteractionsbetweenpeopleandtheenvironment.

ArchaeologicalevidenceandstratigraphycanbeusedtodemonstratehowprehistorictechnologiesandpracticeschangedovertimeatMeadowcroft.FieldSchoolsatMeadowcroftinthe1970sutilizedearlycomputertechnologiesinthesystematicorganizationofdataduringtheexcavation.

CulturalFindings

Elevennaturallyoccurringstrata(geology)and52RadiocarbonassaysindicateacontinuoushumanpresenceatMeadowcroftover16,000years.

AllknownNew-WorldculturalperiodsarerepresentedatMeadowcroft.Archaeologicalevidenceexplainshowthesecultureschangedovertimeandthesignificanceofthesechanges.

TheabundantnaturalresourcesandarelativelystableclimateresultedincontinuousbutintermittenthumanuseofMeadowcroftover16,000years.Prehistoricpeoplesadaptedtominorclimaticepisodesandmodifiedtheiractivityatthesitebasedontheseasons.

Throughout16,000years,humanshavemodifiedtheCrossCreekwatershedtomeettheirevolvingneedsandinresponsetochangingenvironments.

Prehistoricpeopleadaptednewtechnologiesandpracticesinresponsetonaturalandculturalevolution.


FirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterOn-SiteProgram

ExplorethediscoveryandexcavationofMeadowcroftRockshelter,aNationalHistoricLandmark,inthisnewlydesignedfieldtripexperience.Interactivestationsprovidestudentswithhands-onandinquiry-basedopportunitiesforuncoveringthesecretsofthe“FirstPeoples”andthemulti-disciplinaryapproachoftheexpertswhostudythearchaeologicalsite.InvestigatehowgeographyandecologyoftheCrossCreekwatershedimpactedtheabilityofprehistoricpeopletocamphere,explorethegeologicforcesthatcreatedtheRockshelteranditsstratigraphy,examinethearchaeologicalsite,andanalyzeeducationalartifactstounderstandhowarchaeologistsinterpretaculturalassemblage.

ProgramThemes

AFirstPeoplesProgramusestwotofourmajorthemestoexploretheMeadowcroftRockshelter.Eachthemefocusesonadifferentmethodologyusedbythemulti-disciplinaryteamofexpertswhodirectedthearchaeologicalinvestigations.Currentthemesinclude:

GeographyandEcology:studentsexplorethegeographyandecologyoftheCrossCreekwatershedtolearnabouthowthenaturalworldcontributestohumansettlementpatterns,suchasthebivouac(orcamp)atMeadowcroftRockshelter

Archaeology:studentsexplorethetoolsandtechniquesusedtoexcavate,document,andinterpretMeadowcroftRockshelter,focusingonstratigraphyandsitedocumentation

Geology:studentsinvestigatethegeologicalstoryoftheCrossCreekwatershedandtheformationofMeadowcroftRockshelter

CulturalFindings:studentsparticipateinhands-onactivitiesdemonstratingmaterialcultureanalysisandclassificationtoolsusedbyarchaeologiststounderstandculturalchangesovertime.

Program at a Glance

Audience: K- 12th grade

Duration: 1.5-2 hours

2 to 4 interpretive stations

Group Size: 4 groups of up to 40 students per group (Accommodations for larger groups are available by adding a visit to the Woodland Encounters area)

The program takes place outside. Please dress accordingly.

The Meadowcroft Rockshelter is located at the top of a steep slope. Access is gained by climbing 65 stairs to the lower viewing platform. There is no handicap access. However, the program can be altered to accommodate visitors with physical and other disabilities. Please inform Museum Staff of your group’s needs when making your reservation.


Themesareselectedforschoolfieldtripsbasedonthegradelevelofstudentsandtheamountoftimeavailablefortheexperience.

Meadowcroftprogramsarefacilitatedbyprofessionalhistoricinterpretersassistedbytrainedvolunteers.Interpretersuseaninquiry-basedinterpretiveapproachtailoredtothegrade-levelandinterestoftheiraudience.Whenappropriate,interpreterspresentevidencefromtheexcavationofthesiteandleadstudentsthroughactivitiesthatapplythescientificmethod.Together,studentsandtheirinterpreterformulatehypotheses,exploretheproceduresusedtoacquiredata,analyzedatafromtheexcavation,andthendrawconclusionsbasedontheirhypotheses.Bytheendoftheprogram,studentsshouldbeabletodrawtheirownconclusionsaboutthesignificanceofthesitewhiledescribingtheprocessesanddatawhichsupportthoseconclusions.

IntendedOutcomesofThematicOn-SiteExplorationStudentswhoparticipateinaFirstPeople:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterprogramwilldemonstrategrade-appropriateunderstandingofthesiteinthefollowingways:

GeologyStudentswill:

• IdentifyanddescribegeologiceventsthatshapedthelandscapeoftheUpperOhioValley

• DescribeandexplainthegeologicforcesthatshapedthetopographyoftheCrossCreekwatershed

• IdentifyanddescribecriticalevidenceusedbygeologiststoreconstructthegeologicstoryoftheCrossCreekwatershed/UpperOhiowatershed

• Identifykeyrockformations,thecompositionofthoserocks,andtheiragesatMeadowcroftRockshelter

• DescribeandexplainthelifecycleofMeadowcroftRockshelter

• DescribeandexplainhowattritionanddepositioncontributetothestratigraphyoftheRockshelter

Geography,Environment,andEcologyStudentswill:

• Identify,describe,orexplainMeadowcroft’sgeographiclocationanddifferentmappingrepresentationsthatcanbeusedtoexplainthesite

• IdentifyanddescribehumanandnaturalcharacteristicsoftheCrossCreekwatershed


• Identify,describeorexplainthemajorecosystemsoftheCrossCreekwatershedandthebioticandabioticcomponentsofeach

• Identify,describe,classify,oranalyzethe majorcategoriesoffloraandfaunaandthehabitatsofthoseorganismsintheCrossCreekwatershed

• Describeorexplainhowastable,temperateecologyresultedindiversenaturalresourcesthroughout16,000years

• Identify,describe,explainoranalyzetheavailabilityofnaturalresourcesandthehumaninteractionwiththeenvironmentneartheRockshelterover16,000years

• Identify,describe,explain,oranalyzethetransformationsintheecologyandgeographyoftheCrossCreekwatershedduetoincreasedhumanactivityintheHistoricPeriod

• Identify,describe,explain,oranalyzehowtheCrossCreekwatershedimpactsgeographicfeatures,culturalbehaviorsandadaptation,andresourcedistribution.

ArchaeologyStudentswill:

• Identifykeyfeaturesofanarchaeologicalsite

• Describehowarchaeologistsorganizedandexcavatedthesitetopreservethecontextofallinformation

• Definemulti-disciplinaryand/orgiveexamplesofthediversedisciplinesthatcontributedtotheMeadowcroftProject

• ExplainstratigraphyofMeadowcroftRockshelterand/orapplytheLawofSuperpositiontodemonstraterelativedating

• Differentiatebetweenandartifactandananthropogenicfeature;giveanexampleofeach

• Identifymajorcategoriesofarchaeologicalevidence

• Describeandexplaintherecovery,classification,andanalysisofcriticalevidencerecoveredfromMeadowcroftRockshelter

• Describeorexplainhowarchaeologycontributestotheunderstandingofprehistoricpeoples

• Identify,describe,orexplainthedifferencebetweenrelativeandscientificdating;giveexamplesofeach

of30FirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterSchoolProgramsGuide

• RecognizeMeadowcroftRockshelterasthemostsignificantprehistoricarchaeologicalsiteinPennsylvania/theUpperOhioValley

CulturalFindingsStudentswill:

• Recognizethatarchaeologyprovidesaprocessforlearningaboutprehistoricculturalgroups;evidencefromarchaeologicalexcavationsisanalyzedandusedtoconstructinterpretationsofprehistoriclife

• DescribethestratigraphyofMeadowcroftRockshelterandidentifycriticalculturalevidenceforeachstratum

• Identify,describeandexplainthedifferentculturalgroupswhooccupiedMeadowcroft

• ExplainhowarchaeologistsusestratigraphyanddiagnosticartifactstodifferentiatebetweenCulturalPeriodsatMeadowcroft

• Identify,describeorexplainthemajorcategoriesofartifactsrecoveredfromaprehistoricarchaeologicalsite

• Identify,describe,explainand/orgiveexamplesofhowcontinuityandchangecanappearintheartifactrecord

• DescribetheMillerComplexandexplainwhythematerialsinStratumIIalowerupsetarchaeologicaltheories

• DescribeandexplainhowarchaeologyatMeadowcroftcontributedtoare-thinkingoftheClovisFirstTheory

Inadditiontotheanticipatedoutcomesforeachtheme,studentswillhavetheopportunitytopracticethefollowingreading,writing,speaking,listeningandlanguagestrategies:

• Askrelevantquestions • Evaluateavarietyofsourcesacrossarangeofdisciplines• Demonstratecommandofrelevantvocabulary• Articulatetheirownideas• Comprehendcriticalinformationaboutthethemeandciteevidencethatsupportsthetheme• Listenactivelytoapresenter;collaboratewithclassmatesandmuseumstaff• Summarizekeypoints• Makeandshareobservationsaboutthesite• Experiencesensorystimulationfromtheoutdoorenvironmentofthesite


PreparingforanOn-SiteFirstPeoplesFieldTrip

SchoolsplanningtovisitMeadowcroftRockshelterduringafieldtripshouldallocateaminimumofonepre-visitandone-postvisitclassroomperiodforpreparationanddebriefing.

Studentsshouldhavebasicknowledgeofthe“sciences”ofarchaeology,geology,andecologybeforevisiting.Theyshouldalsohaveworkinggeographicknowledgeofthearea.FirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterResourcescanbeusedtopreparestudentsfortheirvisit.

Studentsshouldhaveattainedatleastanelementaryunderstandingofthefollowinggeneralconcepts/vocabularybeforevisiting:

On-SitePreparationSteps

1.AdministertheappropriatePre-Visitevaluation

2.Playthe“IntroductiontoMeadowcroft”videoORpresenttheIntroductiontoMeadowcroftRockshelterPowerPoint

3.ConductoneoftheFirstPeoplesGigaPanactivities

4.Onedaypriortoyourvisit,offeranoverviewoftheprogram,reviewlogisticsandreviewappropriatebehaviorandattirefortheday.

Optional:

SelectoneofthethematicactivitiesorcreateyourownactivityfromthesuggestionsintheThematicteacherguides.

Post-Visit

-Conductadebriefingexerciseorsummaryactivity

-administerthePost-VisitEvaluation

-ProvidefeedbacktoMeadowcroftstaffbye-mailingardonovan@heinzhistorycenter.org


Vocabulary ConceptsRockshelterWatershedArchaeologyGeologyGeographyEcologyArtifactFeatureStratigraphyHabitatEnvironmentCultureErosionEvidence

BasicNeedsOhioRiverWatershedGeologicForcesScientificMethodLawofSuperposition/StratigraphyRelativevs.ScientificDatingCulturalPeriods


On-siteLogistics

AvisittoMeadowcroftisauniqueexperiencethatissimilartoavisittoaNationalorStateParkthantoamuseum.Inadvanceofyourvisit,pleaseprepareyourstudentsfortheexperiencesothattheyarecomfortableandreadytolearnwhentheyarrive.

OutdoorMuseum

MeadowcroftRockshelterisanoutdoorsite.Pleaseadvisestudentsandchaperonestodressappropriatelyfortheweather.Close-toedshoesarehighlyrecommended.Sunscreenandinsectrepellentaredesirabledependingonconditionsthedayyouvisit.

Foryoursafetyandthesafetyofthebuildingsandgrounds,pleasestayonthetrails.Poisonivyandstingingnettlegrowontheproperty.Avarietyofdiversebirds,animals,insects,reptiles,andamphibianscallMeadowcrofthome.Pleaserespecttheirhabitatsandlookbutdonotfeedortouchanycreatures.Leaveonlyyourfootprints.

TheMeadowcroftgroundsencompassover200acresandincludebothopenandforestedareaswithvaryingslopeandterrain.Forsafetyandoutofrespecttoothervisitors,pleasewalkbetweeninterpretiveareasandsharethetrails.

LunchArrangements

Lunchspaceisavailableonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Apicnicpavilion,outdoorpicnictables,andlimitedindoorseatingareavailable.LunchwillbescheduledeitherbeforeorafteryourprogramsincestudentsmustbebussedtoaremoteportionofthemuseumfortheFirstPeoplesprogram.

Studentswillneedtobringbaggedlunchesasthemuseumsellsonlysnacksanddrinks.Waterfountainsareavailableifstudentswishtobringtheirownreusablewaterbottles.Pleaseremindstudentstocleanupafterthemselvesandplaceanygarbageinappropriatereceptacles.

GroupSizeandDistinction

Groupswillbedividedaccordingtothenumberofinterpretivestationsplannedfortheday.Youmaywishtomakethiseasierbypre-assigningstudentstoagroup.Someteachersfinditeasiesttohaveallthestudentsinonegroupwearthesamecolort-shirtornametag.


PersonalTechnology

CamerasandcellphonesarepermittedduringallportionsoftheFirstPeoplesprogram,withpermissionoftheteacher/school.PleasenotethatMeadowcroftisremotelylocatedandthatcellphonesignalstrengthvariesbycarrierandlocationontheproperty.Pleaseensurethatbatteriesarefullychargedbeforevisiting.

Accessibility

TheFirstPeoplesprogramoccursatthefootofthehillfromtheMeadowcroftVisitorsCenter.InterpretivestationsareinthegravellotattheRockshelterandintheRockshelterenclosure.TheRockshelterislocatedatthetopof65stairs;restareasareprovidedonthestairwell.Anystudentwithspecialneedsmaybeaccompaniedbyanadultwhocanhelpthemnavigatethesiteandparticipateprograms.Anyaccessibility-relatedconcernsmaybeaddressedpriortoyourvisitbycontactingMeadowcroftStaffat724-587-3412.

GiftShop

Agiftshop/bookstoreisavailableonsite.PleaseletMeadowcroftstaffknowifyouallowyourstudentstovisitthegiftshop;wewillassigneachgroupatimeonthescheduletominimizecongestioninthespace.Ifyouwillbeshopping,pleaseremindyourstudentstobringmoney.

Chaperones

Chaperonesareessentialtothesuccessofafieldtrip.However,avisittoMeadowcroftRockshelterisunlikemanyfieldtripsinthatitbridgesatraditionalmuseumexperienceandanoutdoorpark-likeatmosphere.Teachersshouldhelppreparethechaperonesforthevisit,communicatingexpectationsandbasicsafetyinformationpriortoyourarrivalonsite.Usethechaperoneguideonthefollowingpagetoprepareyourchaperones.Feelfreetocustomizetheguidewithyourownexpectationsornotes.


ChaperoneGuidetoMeadowcroftRockshelter

AboutOurFieldTrip:OurstudentswillbeparticipatinginaFirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterprogram.StudentswillbevisitingtheMeadowcroftRockshelter,aprehistoricarchaeologicalsite,tolearnabouttheprocessofarchaeology,geology,thegeographyandecologyoftheCrossCreekwatershed,andtheculturalevidencerecoveredbyarchaeologists.YoucanlearnabouttheprogrambyvisitingMeadowcroft’swebsite(http://www.heinzhistorycenter.org/meadowcroft).Attire:Theprogramtakesplaceoutside;pleasedressaccordingly.Close-toedshoesarehighlysuggested.Pleaserememberthatyouarerepresentingourschooldistrictwhenyouchooseyourattire.Groups:OurstudentswillbedividedintogroupsforthedurationoftheRockshelterprogram.Youwillbeassignedtoonegroup;pleasestaywiththatgroupatalltimes.EachgroupwillhaveauniqueschedulethatallowsthemtoexperiencealltheinterpretivestationsattheRockshelter.Pleasemakesureyourgroupfollowstheschedule.Safety:TheprogramrequiresstudentstobebussedfromtheVisitorCentertoaremotelocationonthesite’sproperty.OnceattheRockshelter,studentswillbenearadeepandswiftcreek,rockyterrain,andaforestenvironment.Groupswillneedtoclimbasteepstaircase(65stairs)toaccesstheRocksheltersite;landingsandrestpointsarebuiltintotheclimb.Pleasemakesureyourgroupstayssafe:

• Stayonmarkedtrailsandpathways• Donotsitorclimbonthefences,wallsorbarricades• Walk;norunningorhorseplay• Lookatbutdonotfeed,touchorapproachanywildcreaturesyoumayencounter• StaytoyourrightwhenusingthestairstotheRockshelter;groupswillbepassingoneanother

whenmovingbetweeninterpretivestations.Lunches:Lunchspaceisavailableonafirst-come,first-servedbasis.Museumstaffwillassignusalunchtime.Themuseumonlysellssnacksandbeverages;pleasebringalunchwithyou.Waterfountainsareavailableifyouwishtobringarefillablewaterbottle.PersonalTechnology:Wewillbefollowingourschool’stechnologypolicyduringthefieldtrip.Pleasemodelappropriatebehaviorandmuteyourphoneandonlyuseittotakepictures.NotethatMeadowcroftisremotelylocatedandthatcellphonesignalstrengthvariesbycarrierandlocationontheproperty.Pleaseensurethatbatteriesarefullychargedbeforevisiting.


FirstPeoplesVirtualSchoolPrograms

Meadowcroftofferstwodifferentopportunitiesforvirtualprogramming:facilitatedvideoconferencingorteacher-ledvirtualfieldtrips.BothprogramsusetheFirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterresourcesandGigaPanimages,offeringstudentswhocannotphysicallyvisitthesiteanunprecedentedopportunitytoinvestigateMeadowcroftRockshelter.

VideoconferencingClassroomscanengageincollaborative,interactivelearningexperienceswithMeadowcroftstafffromremotelocationsusingvideoconferencingtechnology.AdesignatedmemberoftheMeadowcroftEducationstaffwillbeassignedtofacilitateallaspectsofyourprogram.Theseprogramsfollowageneralthematicoutline;however,staffmemberswillworkwithyou(beginninguptosixweeksinadvanceofyourprogram)totailortheprogramtoyourclass.Duringthevideoconference,thefacilitatorwilluseacombinationofdistancelearningtechniquestoengageyourclassroom,includingpresentation,discussion,question-and-answer,cooperativeproblem-solving,andreflection.Thetechniquesrequirestudentstopracticevariousreading,writing,speaking,listening,andlanguagestandards.StudentswillengagewithavarietyofdatafromtheintensivestudyoftheRockshelter,high-resolutionGigaPanimages,andmulti-mediacontent.Includedinthefeeforthevideoconference,isapre-visitphonecallwiththeteachertocustomizetheexperience,pre-visitmaterialswhichwillbee-mailedaminimumoftwoweekspriortotheprogram,andafollow-upcallore-mail.Mostprogramsrequiretheteachertohavestudentswriteandsubmitquestionsinadvanceofyourprogramdate.

VideoconferenceThemesandOutcomesTeacherscanchoosefromfivethematicvideoconferencingexplorations,including:

1) MeadowcroftRockshelterOverview:ExplorethesecretsofMeadowcroftRockshelterandthesignificanceofthesiteinNorthAmericanarchaeology.

Program at a Glance

Audience: 4th- 12th grade

Program Duration: 45 to 60 minutes

Availability: November -March

The program requires Internet access.

Please inform Museum Staff of your group’s technology capabilities when making your reservation. Content can be tailored to your needs.

For more information on the programs, contact Andrew Donovan, Program Coordinator, at [email protected] or (724)587-3412.


AnticipatedStudentOutcomes: • IdentifyMeadowcroftRockshelterasoneoftheoldest,mostcontinually

(althoughintermittently)occupiedarchaeologicalsitesinNorthAmerica,containingevidenceofallmajorprehistoricCulturalPeriods

• Explainthestate-of-the-artmulti-disciplinaryarchaeologicalinvestigation• Describecriticalevidencerecoveredfromthesite,includingartifacts,features,

geofacts,andecofacts• Explainhowastable,temperateecologyresultedindiversenaturalresources

throughout16,000years

2) ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter:InvestigatethemethodologiesusedbytheexpertswhoexcavatedtheRockshelterandexploretheevidenceleftbytheFirstPeoples.

AnticipatedStudentOutcomes: • Describehowarchaeologistsorganizedandexcavatedthesitetopreservethe

contextofallinformation• Definemulti-disciplinaryandgiveexamplesofthediversedisciplinesthat

contributedtotheMeadowcroftProject• ExplainstratigraphyofMeadowcroftRockshelterandapplytheLawof

Superpositiontodemonstraterelativedating• Describeandexplaintherecovery,classification,andanalysisofcriticalevidence

recoveredfromMeadowcroftRockshelter

3) CrossCreekEcology:ExplorethegeographyandecologyoftheCrossCreekwatershedtodeterminehowthenaturalworldimpactedthelivesoftheFirstPeoples.

AnticipatedStudentOutcomes: • DescribethelocationofMeadowcroftRockshelteronvariousgeographic

representations• ExplainthemajorecosystemsoftheCrossCreekwatershed• Explainmajorcategoriesoffloraandfaunaandthehabitatsofthoseorganisms

intheCrossCreekwatershed• Explainhowastable,temperateecologyresultedindiversenaturalresources

throughout16,000years

4) AGeologicHistoryoftheMeadowcroftRockshelter:DiscoverthegeologicforcesthatshapedtheCrossCreekwatershed,createdtheRockshelter,andimpactedthesubsequentstratigraphyofthesite.

AnticipatedStudentOutcomes: • Describeandexplainthegeologicevents/forcesthatcreatedthelandscapeof

theUpperOhioValley,includingerosion,downcutting,etc.• IdentifyandDescribecriticalevidenceusedbygeologiststoreconstructthe

geologicstoryoftheCrossCreekwatershed• DescribeandexplainthelifecycleofMeadowcroftRockshelter• Explainhowattritionanddepositioncontributetothestratigraphyofthe

Rockshelter


5) TheCulturalSignificanceoftheMeadowcroftRockshelter:UncoverculturalevidencefromMeadowcroftRocksheltertounderstandtheculturalprogressionofFirstPeoplesinNorthAmerica.

AnticipatedStudentOutcomes: • DescribethestratigraphyofMeadowcroftRockshelterandidentifycritical

culturalevidenceforeachstratum• Explainhowarchaeologistsusestratigraphyanddiagnosticartifactsto

differentiatebetweenCulturalPeriodsatMeadowcroft.• DescribetheMillerComplexandexplainwhythematerialsinStratumIIalower

upsetarchaeologicaltheories• DescribeandexplainhowarchaeologyatMeadowcroftcontributedtoare-

thinkingoftheClovisFirstTheory

Inadditiontooutcomesforeachtheme,studentswillhavetheopportunitytopracticethefollowingreading,writing,speaking,listeningandlanguagestrategies:

• Writeandaskrelevantquestions • Evaluateavarietyofsourcesacrossarangeofdisciplines• Demonstratecommandofrelevantvocabulary• Articulatetheirownideas• Comprehendcriticalinformationaboutthethemeandciteevidencethatsupportsthetheme• Listenactivelytoapresenter• Summarizekeypoints• Describethestrengthsandlimitationsofparticipatinginafieldexplorationusing

videoconferencingtechnology

PreparingforVideoconferencingFirstPeoplesLearningExperiencesVideoconferencingProgramsarecurrentlyavailableNovember-MarchwhenMeadowcroftisnotphysicallyopentothepublic.Pleasecontactstaffaminimumofsixweeksbeforeyourpreferredprogram.

FirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterVideoconferencingprogramsaredesignedasacollaborativeendeavorbetweenMeadowcroftstaffandclassroomteachers.Pleasebepreparedtoofferinputduringtheplanningprocess.Thefollowingtableoffersasummarytimelineforplanningandimplementingyourcustomizedvideoconference.Pleasenotethattheteacherisresponsibleforsupplyinginformationand/orleadingafewactivitiesbeforeyourprogram.

ThetableonthefollowingpageoffersanapproximatetimelineforpreparingforaFirstPeoplesvideoconference.


TimelineforPreparingforaFirstPeoplesVideoconferenceTimeframe Task NotesSixWeekspriortopreferredprogramdate(minimum)

ContactMeadowcroftStafftoscheduleprogram.

Meadowcroftstaffwille-mailorcallinresponsetoyouronlineorphonereservation.

Onemonthpriortoprogram

CorrespondwithMeadowcroftstafftotailorcontentanddiscusspreferredobjectives.

Meadowcroftstaffwillcallyouaminimumof30daysbeforeyourprogramtotailorcontentanddiscussyourobjectives.Pleasescheduleapproximately20minutesforthiscall.Thiswillbefollowedbyaconfirmatione-mailcontaininganoutlineforyourprogramandanypre-visitactivities/materials.

Twoweekspriortoprogram

IntroduceMeadowcrofttoyourstudentsandadministerthepre-programevaluation.

Apre-andpost-evaluation(identical)offersyouanopportunitytogaugestudentlearning.

Completeanypre-visitclassroomactivities,havestudentswritequestionstheyhopetohaveanswered.

E-mailMeadowcroftStaff

Sharepre-programpreparationsandclassprofilewithMeadowcroftStaff

Oneweekout Participateinthetechrun Thisisafive(5)minutetechruntomakesurethere

arenoconnectivityissues.RemindstudentsthattheywillbeparticipatinginaVideoconferencenextweek

Reviewprotocolandexpectations

DayBefore Remindstudentsthattomorrowisthe

videoconference.

PrepareclassroomandanymaterialsthatyourStafffacilitatorhassuggested

Dayof Helpfacilitatestudentparticipation

duringprogramPleaseengagewithMeadowcroftStaffandmodelappropriatebehaviorforyourstudents.

Post-program Administerpost-programstudent

evaluation

Completeapost-programactivity E-mailMeadowcroftStaffwithanyfollow-upquestionsor“shareable”moments”

Completeaprogramevaluation Mailore-mailyourfeedbacktoMeadowcroftStaff


VirtualFieldTripsofMeadowcroftRockshelter

TheFirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelterGigaPanimagesprovideanengagingvirtualfieldtripforstudents.Theimagesarestructuredtoenableself-guidedvirtualfieldtripsorforteacher-designedvisits.Theimagescontainembeddedthematic“lessons”,completewithcuratedtext,highlightedvocabularyterms,visualmaterials,andmultimediacontent.Tabsatthebottomofeachimagecanbeusedtoexploreatheme,offeringanumberedsequenceofinterestpoints.Alternately,studentscanrandomlyselectinterestpointstoexplorethesiteastheirowninterestspermit.

TeachersmayalsochoosetodeveloptheirownvirtualfieldtripbycreatingaworksheetthatguidesstudentexplorationtotheMeadowcroftRockshelter.Inthiscase,materialscurriculummaterialsfromtheFirstPeoplesresourceswillsupplementtheinformationembeddedintheGigaPanimages.IfyoudevelopavirtualfieldtripusingFirstPeoples:ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter,pleaseshareyourworkwithMeadowcroftStaff.

Toconductavirtualfieldtrip,usetheFirstPeoplesGigaPanlessons.

TolearnmoreaboutteachingwithFirstPeoplesGigaPan,downloadtheFirstPeoplesGigaPanResourcesGuide.


SignificanceofMeadowcroftRockshelterMeadowcroftRockshelter(36Wh297)isadeeplystratified,multi-componentarchaeologicalsitesituatedonthenorthbankofCrossCreek,asmalluplaoftheOhioRiver.ThesiteislocatednearAvella,PennsylvaniainWashingtonCounty.TheexcavationatMeadowcroftwasconductedbytheUniversityofPittsburghbeginninginthe1970sandyieldedtremendousamountsofdata,includingwellpreservedplant,animal,andculturalremains.

Radiocarbondatesindicatethathumansoccupiedthesiteatleast16,000yearsago,makingthelocationoneoftheoldestculturalsitesinNorthAmerica.Duetoexceptionallyintact,deepstratigraphy(16feet),MeadowcroftalsoyieldedthemostcontinuousrecordofprehistoriclifeinPennsylvania,coveringallmajorculturalperiodsfromPaleo-IndianthroughtheHistoricPeriod.

Thesiteissignificantfortwoprimaryreasons:

• StratumIIalowercontainsthemostsignifcantpre-ClovisPaleo-IndianartifactsinPennsylvania,ifnotNorthAmerica.RadiocarbondatesfromStratumIIaindicateahumanpresenceatleast5,000yearsbeforeClovisPaleo-Indiansites.LithictechnologiesfromthislevelincludestonebladesthatresemblestonetoolsfoundinSiberiadatingtothesameperiod.TheMillerLanceolate,namedforthemanwhodiscoveredMeadowcroftRockshelter,isanunflutedprojectilepointthatresembleslaterflutedpoints.ThissuggeststhattheearliestpeopleatMeadowcroftweretheancestorsoflaterPaleo-Indiangroups.TheappearanceofthistechnologycanalsobeusedtosupportnewclaimstothepeoplingofNorthAmerica.

• TheexcavationatMeadowcroftRockshelterisknowninscientificcommunitiesforthethoroughnessofthestate-of-the-art,interdisciplinaryarchaeologicalinvestigation.AtMeadowcroft,avastteamofexpertsfromthirty-twoacademicdisciplinescontributedthebestpracticesfortheirspecialties,resultinginacomprehensivegatheringofdatathatenabledavirtualreconstructionofallaspectsoflifeatprehistoricMeadowcroft.Althoughundertakeninthe1970s,themethodologiesemployedatthesitearerenownedthroughoutthearchaeologicalcommunitytothisday.

TheexcavationteamatMeadowcroftRocksheltergatheredanimmenseamountofdataaboutthenaturalandculturalworld.Bypreservingthecontextofeachpieceofdatawithinthesite’sstratigraphy,thescientistsandarchaeologistscouldcreateachronologyofwhatallaspectsoflifeat

Figure1ViewlookingnortheastatMeadowcroftRockshelterfromacrossCrossCreekshowingfirstwoodenstructureovertheshelter(PhotographbyDr.JamesAdovasio,November1993)


Meadowcroftlookedlike.Specifically,theearthscientists,botanists,biologists,andecologistsstudiedthenaturalworldandchangestotheprehistoricenvironment.Thearchaeologistsandanthropologistsusedthedatatorecreatetheculturalrecord.Workingtogether,thetwoteams(naturalsciencesandculturalsciences)begantointerprettheculturalresponsetothechangingnaturalworld.Thedatageneratedduringtheexcavationcontinuestoberesearchedtoday.EducatorscanbenefitfromthedataandstudybyusingMeadowcroftasacasestudyforhowdifferentacademicdisciplinesworktogethertodrawconclusions.ThesummariesonthefollowingpagesidentifythekeycontentforthemajorthemesaddressedinFirstPeoples:MeadowcroftRockshelter.EachsummaryofferslinkstotheGigaPanimages,ThematicTeacher’sGuides,andthematicGigaPanlessonsthatcanbefurtherinvestigated.


GeologyInquiryatMeadowcroftRockshelter

MeadowcroftislocatedontheunglaciatedportionoftheAppalachianorAlleghenyPlateau,westofthevalleyandridgeprovinceoftheAppalachianMountains,andnorthwestoftheAppalachianBasin.ThesurfacerocksofthisregionarelayeredsedimentaryrocksofMiddletoUpperPennsylvaniaAge(CasselmanFormation).Thepredominantlithologiesareshale,quartz,sandstone,limestone,andcoalindecreasingorderofabundance.

Rocksheltersformwhensofterbedrockerodesunderaharderlithology.MeadowcroftRockshelterisformedbeneathacliffofMorgantown-Connellsvillesandstone,ahard,thickfluvialorchannelsandstonewithintheCasselmanFormation(UpperConemaugh)ofthePennsylvaniaPeriod.Thesandstonevariesfromasub-greywacketoprotoquartziteincomposition.Itisanimmaturesandstonecomposedpredominantlyofquartzgrainswithminoramountsofmica,feldspar,androckfragments.TherockunderlyingtheMorgantown-Connellsvillesandstoneisalessresistantlithology,mostlikelyshale.TheRockshelterformedwhensurfaceweatheringandstreamerosionfromCrossCreekworeawayatthesofterlithology,cuttingbackintothehillsideunderthesandstoneandformingareentrantunderthesandstonecliff.ThesandstonethenremainedasarooftotheRockshelter.By21,000yearsbeforethepresent,theRockshelterwashighanddryabovethefloodplainofCrossCreekandavailableforhumanoccupation.

TheceilingoftheRockshelterisgraduallymigratingupwardandcliff-wardaserosionoccursbothontheRockshelterceilingandthecliffface.Withinthefaceoftheshelterexcavation,therecessionofthedriplinerepresentingthecliffedgepositioncanbeplainlyseen.Mosttypically,erosionresultsinthedislodgmentofindividualsandgrains.Morerarely,rockfragmentsuptothesizeofasmallhousehavefallen.Thiserosion,inadditiontosheetwashfromthecontiguousuplandareas,isresponsibleforthedevelopmentofthestratigraphyofthearchaeologicalsite.

TolearnmoreaboutthegeologyofMeadowcroftRockshelter,pleaseexplorethecompanionTeacher’sGuidetoGeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter

Toconductalessonongeology,downloadtheGeologyGigaPanExploration.

PrimaryConcepts

LandformsintheOhiodrainage

AncestralOhioRiverdrainage

GeologicTimeScaleandHistoryofOhiovalley

DowncuttingandErosionintheformationofTopography

LithologiesandGeologicDating

RockshelterFormationandlifecycle

StratigraphyandtheLawofSuperposition


GeographyandEcologyoftheCrossCreekWatershedMeadowcroft Rockshelter is in northern Washington County,Pennsylvania,roughly35milessouthwestofPittsburghandjustover2milesfromAvella,PA.Thesiteissituatedonthenorthbankof Cross Creek, a small tributary of the Ohio River, which liesroughly7milestothewest.ThesiteisinthePittsburghPlateausSectionoftheAppalachianPlateausPhysiographicProvince.

Topographically,theregionismaturelydissected.Morethan50percentoftheareaisinvalleyslopeswithuplandandvalleybottomareasintheminority.Thestreampatternisdendriticwithdrainagerunningnorthwestwardtowestward,crossingthestatelineintoBrookeCounty,WestVirginiaandultimatelydrainingintotheOhioRivernearFollansbee,WV.ThistopographywasgeneratedduringthePleistocenewhenincreasedprecipitationandrunoffcausedextensivedowncutting.

MeadowcroftRockshelterisorientedroughlyeast-westwithasouthernexposure,andstandsapproximately50feetaboveCrossCreekand803.5feetabovesealevel.Theareaprotectedbytheextantsandstoneoverhangisca.213squarefeetwhiletheoverhangitselfissome42.6feetabovethemodernsurfaceofthesite.Theshelterwasavailableforhumanoccupationby21,000yearsago.InadditiontothepotentialavailabilityofwaterfromCrossCreek,springsareabundantintheimmediatevicinityoftheshelter.TheCrossCreekfloodplainbelow,andblufffaceandblufftopimmediatelyaroundMeadowcroftRockshelter,arecurrentlycoveredwithamixeddeciduousforest.

TheecologyoftheCrossCreekValleyremainedrelativelystablefromtheendoftheWisconsinanGlaciation11,000yearsagountiltheHistoricPeriod.Atonetime,forestcoveredallthewatershed.Mixedoakforestsdominatedhill-topsandsouth-facingslopes,mixedAppalachianmesophyticforestsonnorth-facingslopesandinheadwatercoves,andriverineforestsonalluvialfloodplains.Mostoftheareawascutintheearlynineteenth-centurywhenthelandwasfirstclearedandpreparedforagriculture.Areaswhicharereforestedhavebeenrepeatedlyloggedandrepresentsecondaryforests.

PrimaryConcepts

Ecology

HabitatsintheCrossCreekdrainage

CategoriesofLife

ForestTypesandSuccession

FloralandFaunalSpecies

BioticandAbioticcomponentsofalandscape

ClimaticEpisodesandAdaptation

NaturalResources

Humanimpactontheenvironment

AgricultureandSociety

ResourceManagement

Geography

GeographicLiteracyoftheOhiovalley

Watershedflowanddrainagepatterns

StreamSuccession

Topography

Landforms

Physicalandhumancharacteristicsofthelandscape

Interactionsbetweenpeopleandtheenvironment


FaunalpopulationsremainedrelativelystablefromPleistoceneuntiltheHistoricPeriod.Aslateasthebeginningoftheeighteenth-century,elk,blackbear,mountainlion,wildcat,timberwolf,fisher,otter,beaver,wildturkeyandpassengerpigeoncouldbefoundinthehillsofwesternPennsylvania.Today,white-taileddeer,cottontailrabbit,grayandfoxsquirrel,ringneckpheasant,bobwhitequail,ruffedgrouse,muskratandminkconstitutetheprinciplegamespeciesofthearea.Theruffedgrouse,wildturkey,andtheintroducedringneckpheasantcomprisethegamebirdsofthearea.Terrestrialandriverinereptilesarerepresentedbyblacksnake,gartersnake,boxturtleandsnappingturtle.Amphibiansincludevarioussalamanders,toads,treefrogsandbullfrogs.

Throughouttheglacialadvances,whichcamewithin80milesofMeadowcroftRockshelter,theCrossCreekValleyretainedatemperate,Carolinianenvironment.Theclimateoftheareaischaracterizedbyawideseasonaltemperaturerangewithamoderateamountofprecipitationfallingprimarilyduringthewarmpartsoftheyear.InWashingtonCounty,PA,theyearlytemperaturesrangefrom-20°Fduringthewintermonthsto90°+FinJulyandAugust.Thetemperaturestendtobelowerinhillyareasthaninmorelevelpartsofthecounty,withnighttimetemperaturesdroppingcolderthandaytime.Meanwhile,daytimetemperaturesaregenerallyhigherinvalleybottomsthanonhilltops.Approximately22inchesofrainfallduringthe150frost-freegrowingseasondays,withanaveragetotalof40inchesofrainfallingannually.

TolearnmoreaboutthegeographyandecologyatMeadowcroft,pleaseexploretheTeacher’sGuidetoGeographyandEcologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter.

Toconductalesson,downloadtheGeographyandEcologyExploration.


ArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter

ArchaeologicalexcavationswereconductedatMeadowcroftRockshelterunderthedirectionofDr.JamesAdovasio,thenoftheDepartmentofAnthropologyattheUniversityofPittsburgh,from1973to1979(6fieldseasons,417excavationdaysof12to14hours).Dr.Adovasiolaterledadditionalworkduringthe1990sasdirectoroftheMercyhurstArchaeologicalInstitute,MercyhurstCollege.Thisworkconsistedofsitemaintenancetocleanupslumpsintheshelter.Nonewarchaeologicalexcavationworkhasbeenundertakensincethisperiod.

Fromthestartoftheproject,theexcavationwasdesignedasamulti-disciplinaryinvestigationtogatherasmuchdataaspossibleaboutthesiteandsurroundingarea.Everystepoftheprocesswasplannedanddocumentedtopreservethecontextofanyrecovereddata.Contextisthethree-dimensionallocationofanartifactorfeatureinrelationtoalltheotherartifacts,features,geofacts,orecofactsaroundit,includingsoil.Archaeologyisadestructivescience:theprocessdestroysthecontextoftheevidence.Greatcareisnecessarytoensurethatallinformationisrecordedaccuratelysincetherearenosecondchances.Thedatagatheredduringthearchaeologicalinvestigationyieldedgeological,ecological,andanthropologicalinformation.

Elevenwell-definedstratigraphicunitswereisolatedatthesiteandmeticulouslyexcavatedusingthebeststratigraphicmethodologyavailableatthetime.Infact,theexcavationsarestillwidelyconsideredtobestate-of-the-art.ThestratawerenumberedfromStratumI,theoldestanddeepestunit,toStratumXI,theuppermostandyoungest.Fifty-fourradiocarbonassayshavebeenrunonsamplesfromMeadowcroft,firmlydatingtheelevenstrataandvariousoccupationsoftheRockshelter.

ExcavationsatMeadowcroftendedafter1979,atwhichtimeapproximatelythree-quartersoftheareaunderthedriplinehadbeenexcavated.Itwasdecidedafterthe1979

PrimaryConcepts

History

BranchesofAnthropology

PeoplingofNorthAmerica:Clovisvs.Pre-Clovis

ContinuityandChangeoverTime

Complete,SequentialOccupationalSeriesatRockshelter

ArtifactandFeaturesasPrimaryEvidence

Rockshelter’ssignificanceinregionalandworldhistory

Science

ScientificMethodology

EcofactsandEvidence

Stratigraphy

RadiocarbonDating


fieldschooltopreserveunexcavateddepositsforfutureworkwhennewermethodologiesandtechnologiesmightyieldsignificantnewdata.Sincethen,onlymaintenanceworkhasbeenconductedonsite.Thereremainsignificantdepositsofallelevendefinedstratathatcouldbeexcavatedusingnewermethodologiesandtechniquestoaddressnewresearchquestionsandextractinformationanddatanotrecoveredbyexcavationsconductedduringthe1970s.

TolearnmoreaboutarchaeologyatMeadowcroft,pleaseexploretheTeacher’sGuidetoArchaeologyatMeadowcroftRockshelter.

Toconductalesson,downloadtheArchaeologyExploration.


CulturalSignificanceofMeadowcroftRockshelter

MeadowcroftRockshelter’ssignificancelieswiththestratigraphyofthesite:hiddenwithintheelevennaturalstrataisacontinuousbutintermittentrecordofculturalactivity.ApplyingtheLawofSuperposition,archaeologistssafelyassumethatanyculturalevidenceiswhereitwasdepositedbyprehistoricpeoples,withtheoldestevidencebeingdeepestandthenewestontop.

Fifty-tworadiocarbondatesanchorthestratigraphicsequence.ThecalibratedagesfortheseassaysindicateaWoodlandperiodascriptionforStrataXI-IV(upper),anArchaicascriptionforStrataIV(middle)-IIb,andapredominatelyPaleo-IndianascriptionforStratumIIa.Inshort,thecalibrateddatesfromMeadowcroftsupportacompletesequenceofeverymajorprehistoricculturalperiodinNorthAmerica,includingmajorculturaltransitionssuchascropdomestication.

PriortotheexcavationofMeadowcroftRockshelter,theaccepted“FirstPeoples”werethePaleo-IndianCloviscultures,namedforasetofdistinctivestonetoolsassociatedwithPleistocenefaunadiscoverednearClovis,NewMexico,andradiocarbondatedbetween11,500and11,000YBP.However,inStratumIIAatMeadowcroft,archaeologistsencounteredecologicaldataandculturalmaterialsdubbedthe“MillerComplex”(includingbasketry,amodifiedwoodspearforeshaft,anotablelithicassemblage)thatwerestratigraphicallybelowPaleo-IndianculturalmaterialsthatwereradiocarbondatedtothesametimeasClovis.Thesematerialshavebeenradiocarbondatedbetween16,175and11,300yearsago,registeringaculturalpresenceatleast4,000yearsbeforeClovis.Ontopofthat,thelithiccontext

oftheso-calledMillerComplexlookedverydifferentthanClovisassemblages.ThesePre-ClovisPaleo-IndianfindsarethemostsignificantculturalmaterialsatMeadowcroft

PrimaryConcepts

History

PeoplingofNorthAmerica:Clovisvs.Pre-Clovis

CulturalPeriods:ContinuityandChangeoverTime

Millerlanceolateandartifactscriticaltohistory

Complete,SequentialOccupationalSeriesatRockshelter

SignificanceofMeadowcroftRockshelterinregional,US,andWorldHistory

Humangeographyandsocialorganization

Science,TechnologyandEngineeringEducation

Characteristicsofprehistorictechnologies

NaturalResourcesandmaterialsselection


MeadowcroftwasthefirstarchaeologicalsitetopublishPre-Clovismaterials,givingrisetonewtheoriesabouthowandwhenNorthAmericawaspeopled.ThefactthatthereremainsasubstantialunexcavatedportionofearlyandlaterlevelsmeansthesitehasthepotentialforotherstotesttheexistinginterpretationsofthesiteandtoyieldevenmoredataontheearlyinhabitantsoftheUnitedStates.SincepublicationofMeadowcroft’sPre-Cloviscomponentinthe1970s,othersitesusingsimilarmethodologieshavereportedsimilarfindingsinartifacts,stratigraphy,andradiocarbonassays.TogetherthesesitesdemonstratethatprehistoricpeoplewereactiveinNorthAmericanatminimum5,000yearsbeforeClovispeoples.MeadowcroftRockshelterremainsacriticalpieceofevidenceintheunderstandingofthesefirstpeoples.

TolearnmoreabouttheCulturalSignificanceofMeadowcroft,pleasevisitthecompanionTeacher’sGuidetoCulturalFindings.

Toconductalesson,downloadtheCulturalFindingsExploration.

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