Houserville Site
Houserville Site (36CE65) | |
Location | 1300 block of E. College Ave., east of State College[2] |
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Nearest city | College Township, Centre County, Pennsylvania |
Coordinates | 40°48′42″N 77°50′4″W / 40.81167°N 77.83444°W |
Area | 1.1 acres (0.45 ha) |
NRHP reference No. | 86000401[1] |
Added to NRHP | March 6, 1986 |
The Houserville Site is an archaeological site located near State College in Centre County, Pennsylvania, United States. Used as a stone workshop by prehistoric Native Americans ten thousand years ago, it has been recognized as a prime candidate for prehistoric preservation.
Location
Located in College Township near the community of Houserville, the site lies on the summit and sides of a knoll above Slab Cabin Run.[2]: 6 Before white settlement of the Nittany Valley, areas such as the Houserville Site were typically occupied by hardwood forests, but the site has been cultivated since the nineteenth century. Recent decades have seen increasing development in the Houserville vicinity and a consequent reduction in agriculture.[2]: 2
Excavation
In 1978, an archaeological survey conducted by
Conclusions
Pennsylvania State University archaeologists have concluded that the information gathered from the Houserville Site is key to understanding central Pennsylvania's Archaic period. Objects made of Bald Eagle Jasper have been discovered at many locations in the region; consequently, the identification of the source of this type of stone may clarify the nature of the area's trade routes. Moreover, access to these sites may enable archaeologists to understand better the limitations of Bald Eagle Jasper and the reasons for its abandonment by later cultures. Finally, as cultural changes typically accompanied advances in lithic technology in early Native American societies, the evidence provided by the Houserville Site may clarify the development of Early and Middle Archaic society in central Pennsylvania.[2]: 5
In 1986, the Houserville Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in recognition of its archaeological value, four years after the Tudek Site was accorded a similar status.[1]
See also
References
- ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Stevenson, Christopher M., and Conran Hay. National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Houserville Site (36CE65). National Park Service, 1980-10-15.
- ^ a b Stevenson, Christopher M., and Conran Hay. National Register of Historic Places Inventory/Nomination: Tudek Site. National Park Service, 1980-10-10.
Further reading
- Schindler, D., et al. "Aboriginal Thermal Alteration of a Central Pennsylvania Jasper: Analytical and Behavioral Implications." American Antiquity, 1980.
- -----. "The Heat Treating of Jasper: Analytical and Behaviour Implications." American Antiquity, 1981.