Meadowcroft, here we come! 39 enthusiastic travelers set out on a 10 hour bus ride to Meadowcroft Rockshelter in southwestern Pennsylvania early on a chilly October 10th morning. The three-day trip was co-sponsored by FOSA and the Connecticut State Museum of Natural History (CSMNH). ASC was also represented.

Everyone settled into the comfortable seats of the bus, and Pete, the bus driver, had the driving skills necessary to negotiate the non-highway hilly and twisting roads. Taking advantage of half-hour rest stops morning and afternoon and a lunch break, we kept our leg circulation going while homemade chocolate chip cookies and DVDs helped to dispel boredom. We arrived at our hotel shortly after 5:30 p.m.

After a good night's sleep and a full breakfast, we boarded the bus for the Meadowcroft Rockshelter, now recognized as the site with the longest occupational sequence of humans in the Americas. Dr. James Adovasio, the archaeologist who conducted the excavation between 1973-1978, discovered human made artifacts dating to 16,000-15,000 years ago. Early peoples had used this south-facing rock overhang for shelter, taking advantage of the stream just below. Unfortunately, the over 2000 stone flakes and tools, are not housed at the site.

At the Visitor's Center, Dr. Adovasio described the history of the site, how he became involved, the excavation itself and the dating. He didn't dwell on the furor that erupted within the archaeological community when the early pre-Clovis dates were released. However, now that other sites in the southeast also have early dates, Meadowcroft has now come into its own as an early site of human habitation. The Smithsonian magazine has named Meadowcroft one of the "Five Great Places to See Evidence of First Americans."

Our anticipation rose as we boarded the bus after the presentation. In minutes we were at the shelter, easily climbed the 65 steps leading up to it and faced the excavated interior - huge boulders on the right and the left, which had fallen off the roof thousands of years ago. WOW! Dr. Adovasio came with us and answered questions, but couldn't make the stairs due to recent knee replacement surgery. Another archaeologist spoke to the history and pointed out where the pre-clovis artifacts were found. We were able to enter the upper level so that we had a view of the site looking down - tumbled boulders and rocks.

Back to the Visitor's Center where we picked up an excellent pre-ordered bag lunch. The bright October sunshine led many of us to eat outside. After lunch we were free to roam the grounds of the Senator John Heinz History Center, a collection of interpretive historic villages; Eastern Woodland Indian Village, two 18th century structures and across a covered bridge, a one room schoolhouse, where at least one of our group so badly misbehaved that he was made to wear a dunce cap! The blacksmith forge was fascinating as the blacksmith spoke about his work which was hot and dirty!

The day ended with another visit to the rockshelter where we viewed an excellent video and a museum guide spoke about the shelter. We again had a chance to enter the upper level and looked down on the site.

Knowing that October 12th was Nick's 66th birthday, Carol West wheedled some paper from a restaurant waiter and made a congratulations sign which we all signed. We taped it to his office door at Horsebarn Hill.

The next day we again boarded the bus for the ten-hour drive home. The cookies were gone, but a couple of word games and DVDs filled in the time along with the rest stops and lunch. Everyone disembarked at his/her pick-up site realizing that although the bus trip was long, we had had a fantastic experience visiting one of America's neolithic sites and having Dr. Adovasio as our guide. It was an experience that few of us will forget.

(Click each photo to bring up a larger view.)

                 

Webmaster's Note: To view additional taken during this Meadowcroft Rockshelter Trip, please click Meadowcroft Slideshow.