I found an Indian Cave

[indiangiver]

First time posting, my uncle who treasure hunts told me I may find some answers here!

Near the town of Lancaster, SC I have found a large rock outcrop in the woods near a creek that runs through my property. The rocks have formed a cave (more like a big rock room, not a real underground cave). I had a hunch that Indians probably used this as natural shelter, and I was right! I went in and scratched a little dirt and began finding pottery. Went back the next day with supplies, little plastic shovels, a sifter, gas lantern, headlamp etc. and began working, slowly and meticulously scratching the dirt away from a small area I had picked out. I have yet to find an unbroken pottery bowl but have begun to piece the broken ones together.

I know only a little about the Indians that lived here. I have found their arrowheads in our fields since I was a boy, but the pottery and tools in this cave are surprising. If any of you can point me to a good book I would love to find out more of the history. Or maybe some of you can tell me some facts about these people, let me know what you think!


This is a rim of a bowl, the pottery looks burnished


Another rim piece, unburnished


This appears to be part of a peace pipe, this is the bowl part of the pipe. I wonder what these Indians smoked??


This is a bone fragment that looks like it was whittled to make a point. My thoughts are they used this to draw designs in their pottery


These are two pieces of coal from a fire, I have found many coal fragments at various depths in the ground


These are the arrowheads that came from the cave


These little 'Yadkin Points' are my favorites, I have never found little points like these in the fields


I think this is a scraping tool, there are very fine serrated edges, sharp enough to cut me


You can see the scraping tool's transparency, this stone is not local to my area. I think this stone is found in the Appalachian mountains, which means it may have been handed down through trade


This is an interesting item, it is the base of a deer antler and when I hold the piece it feels like it would have made the perfect handle for a tool!

 

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[Jon Stewart]

the bone tool looks like an awl and the scraper looks to have been heat treated (cooked). Great fines and continue to have fun.

 

[YoungBlood]

I don't want to ruin your good time or stop you from having fun but I think you should get an archaeologist. I know no one on on here likes archaeologists, that's why you need to find a good one. A good archaeologist is trustworthy, knows experience trumps training and most of all will document and archive ALL artifacts. It may take years but there could be something important in there.

 

[GaRebel1861]

Looks like you've got one heck of a place to hunt! Nice finds. I really like those pottery shards.

 

[rock]

The triangles could be Caraway and the age being 1000-200 BP or Hillsboro, Historic 300-200 BP. Pinellas-Mississippian, 800-400BP. Now what I have found if the shelter was made in early yrs it could be very many different Periods that have used it. The deeper you dig the different types you may find. So far it looks like you have found some real good ones. Welcome to Tnet!

 

[rock]

I don't want to ruin your good time or stop you from having fun but I think you should get an archaeologist. I know no one on on here likes archaeologists, that's why you need to find a good one. A good archaeologist is trustworthy, knows experience trumps training and most of all will document and archive ALL artifacts. It may take years but there could be something important in there.

Where are you from?

 

[YoungBlood]

Where are you from?

I'm from West Virginia about 2 or 3 hours from Meadowcroft PA And just south of Moundsville and wheeling WV.

 

[Tnmountains]

Seeing adena and later habitation in the true little arrowheads hamiltons or fort ancient. The bifuracate base may be older was it deeper? The pottery is very decorative which suggest maybe Mississipian. The bone awl is a nice find. The antler base is rounded off and appears to be a knapping tool. I suggest starting at the front of the shelter and use sifters.Dig the area you set up or you may cover good ground with a ton of soil. Once you have your depth to zero occupation then work your way in. Take pictures and document as you go. Shelters are fun and it may have been used for thousands of years. Do not tell anyone the location because it will be dug over night if you are not careful. It is your land. There is nothing an archeologist has not seen before so I would not get them involved in the actual dig but if you know one maybe he can consult you. Be sure to sift though because dry spots yield a lot of history. Hopefully you find layers of charcoal.
Great post and keep us updated and welcome to t-net.

 

[YoungBlood]

It's not true that "archaeologist have seen it all" just a few hours from my house @ Meadowcroft PA it took a man decades to find the right archaeologist but when they excavated they found a spear head dating way before the Clovis people this evidence says people were here long before the history books say. If I can remember exactly how long before I will post it.

 

[indiangiver]

Thanks, we have a family friend who is an archeologist and her help is a consideration of mine. I have only worked one spot so far and am digging down like you mentioned. And although I have not gotten very deep, I have yet to find the depth of zero occupation. I have also built a sift station next to the site to work through the loose dirt I extract from the cave. I will keep posting on treasurenet as I go, will try to upload pics of the actual site soon

 

[rock]

Sounds super cool and I look forward to seeing more.

 

[pickaway]

Great finds, keep up the good work.

 

[indiangiver]

Here are two more items I need help with. One is a bone tool that has a visible carving, the other is a rock tool with a broken tip

 

[YoungBlood]

The second pic looks like a pestle the third might be a broken wedge no clue on the first

 

[T Witko]

and you just scratched the surface. You had a great "hunch" and I'm happy tor you that it was right. The cave was a great find in itself. What you've shown us so far is awesome. Please post the other things you find from time to time.

I agree with what tnmountains said about who you should involve. And above all else be patient. Take your time, look and learn as you go.

 

[GatorBoy]

Wow.. great virgin Rock shelter! I'm jealous. Keep up the good work.

 

[theviking]

Wow. Very nice artifacts, sounds like you have a great place to dig. Don't let those folks trying to push their own agenda slow you down, or make you rethink you'r efforts. Thanks for the show and look forward to seeing more of you'r posts. Welcome to the site.

 

[catherine1]

Nice artifact finds in that shelter. Keep us posted with the booty that comes out of your dig efforts.

 

[catherine1]

Hey lets see some close-up pics of the last bone piece/carvings. Nice pestle.

 

[skateandcreate]

Good looking so far!