Have you ever wondered what life was like at the beginning of human civilization, especially in Pennsylvania? How different and how much harder every day must have been for those early inhabitants? We can probably get a pretty good idea of what it must have been like from books and drawings. However, when you visit this Pennsylvania cave, you’ll get a glimpse at everyday life for humans during the prehistoric era.
Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village in Avella is North America’s oldest site of human habitation, dating back more than 19,000 years.
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Don’t expect your typical cave when you visit Meadowcroft. The Heinz History Center (which runs the historic site) calls it “a massive rock overhang” used by the early hunters and gatherers.
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Albert Miller got the first inkling of something special beneath the ground on his farm when he discovered a prehistoric tool in 1955. However, he decided to find a professional to investigate what he’d found.
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That happened in 1973 when Dr. James Adovasio, an anthropology professor at the nearby University of Pittsburgh, visited and checked out the tool. From there and for the next six years, Dr. Adovasio and his team worked hard to…
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Excavate the site. Their findings during that time were stunning - more than two million artifacts, including what appeared to be remnants of fire pits from the ice age.
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The rock ledge overhang, which many consider a cave, served as a campsite for prehistoric Americans more than 19,000 years ago.
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From May through October, the rock shelter and historic village draw visitors from all over Pennsylvania and beyond. Get an up-close look at the rock shelter, and…
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Explore the rest of the historic village. Meadowcroft is also home to a historic village, a prehistoric Indian village, and a frontier trading post.
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Demonstrations are offered, too, to help bring the villages to life.
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Stop by the official website of Meadowcroft Rock Shelter and Historic Village for days, hours, and more information. Or, go here for Facebook.
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Do you have a favorite Pennsylvania cave? Let us know in the comments! For more unique adventures, plan a visit to these eight caves in Pennsylvania that are like entering another world.
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Address: Meadowcroft Rockshelter and Historic Village, 2759, 401 Meadowcroft Rd, Avella, PA 15312, USA
