Burns BLM archaeological site could be the oldest for North American humans

By on Monday, February 27th, 2023 in Eastern/Southeast Oregon News More Top Stories

JOHN DAY/BURNS – Burns Bureau of Land Management District Archaeologist David Holst was on KJDYโ€™s Coffee Time recently, speaking on The Rimrock Draw Rockshelterโ€”an archaeological site in Harney County that could be proof of one of, if not the oldest site of human inhabitation in North America:

โ€œAcademia can kind of be a toxic environment for this, but thereโ€™s enough of these sites now that I donโ€™t think they can be denied, so we need to interpret it better.

Itโ€™s very excitingโ€”weโ€™re getting dates back from there that are from 17,500 to 18,300 years.

โ€ฆthat confirms that that is one ofโ€ฆprobably the oldest habitation site in North America and maybe the new world.โ€

The site was discovered by the BLM in 2009, and the research efforts have been taken over by the University of Oregon. Holst mentioned the Archaeology Roadshow that will be making a stop in Hines on June 24th and invites anyone interested in archaeology or the Rimrock Draw Rockshelter to attend.

Find the full Coffee Time episode here: https://omny.fm/shows/coffee-time/february-27-burns-district-blm-archaeology

MORE RESOURCES:

Burns BLM: https://www.blm.gov/office/burns-district-office

Museum of Natural and Cultural History–Rimrock Draw Field School: https://mnch.uoregon.edu/rimrock-draw-field-school

Archaeology Roadshow: https://archaeologyroadshow.org/