6 Things Archaeologists Discovered In Oregon That Will Astound You
Did you know that the oldest shoes in the world were discovered in Oregon? Or that ancient mammoth bones were found under the Oregon State University football field?
Oregon’s ancient history is absolutely fascinating, and there are traces of it everywhere. Check out these 6 amazing ancient things that were discovered in Oregon:
In 1938, an archaeologist discovered multiple pairs of ancient sandals preserved beneath volcanic ash in Fort Rock Cave. The shoes are estimated to be between 9,200-10,500 years old, making them the oldest shoes in the world.
Last year, archaeologists discovered something amazing in the high desert of eastern Oregon at Rimrock Draw. What they found was a small knife made out of agate that dates back more than 15,000 years. This knife, along with other ancient tools and the remnants of a fireplace, have led many researchers to believe this site may be one of the oldest ancient settlements in North America.
At the famous Rimrock Draw, researchers also found fragments of teeth that belong to a prehistoric camel-like species that have been extinct for more than 13,000 years.
In 2014, remnants of what seems to be an ancient hunting camp were found in the Skull Creek sand dunes. Archaeologists found shards of pottery, beads, stone points, a tobacco pipe, and more. The hunting camp is thought to be more than 800 years old.
While the football field at Oregon State University was under construction a few years ago, the construction crew inadvertently dug up enormous mammoth bones. (Mammoths have been extinct for more than 10,000 years.)
While researching at the Paisley Caves (pictured above), archeologists found fossilized human feces that contain DNA dating back 14,000 years. That's the oldest human DNA in all of North America.
Oregon’s history is absolutely fascinating. Check out these 11 hidden gems that hold historic keys to Oregon’s past.
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