The Martz Rock Shelters was an
archaeological site located near
Myersdale,
Somerset County,
Pennsylvania,
US, on the farm of Harry Martz. The Somerset County Archaeological Survey began its
excavations on June 14, 1938, and was completed six days later. The site was located about 30 miles from Metropolitan
Pittsburgh. The site was discovered around 1938 during the
Works Projects Administration excavation project, necessary for the construction of state highway 219.[1][2] It was located at a hill overlooking the
Casselman River from which a
shale ledge protruded about two hundred and fifty feet above the river. The opening of the
caves faced south. The site was destroyed during the construction of the highway.[3]
Chert and quartz are not naturally found in Somerset County.[2]
Findings
The deposition was found to be thirty-six inches in depth. Local knowledge of the site attributes the occupation to
Native Americans. The excavation confirmed that the site was occupied as early as other sites located in eastern parts of Pennsylvania.[2][4][5] The site indicates that the settlement was occupied by a subsistence based group. Characteristics of subsistence settlements were dependence on
maize, villages that were located above the river
floodplain and the use of underground storage.[6]
^Shovel ready : archaeology and Roosevelt's New Deal for America. Means, Bernard K. (Bernard Klaus), 1964-. Tuscaloosa: University of Alabama Press. 2013. pp. 51–52.
ISBN9780817357184.
OCLC826685110.{{
cite book}}: CS1 maint: others (
link)