Archaeologists skirting a ravine near the Enoree River to survey a timber sale on the Enoree Ranger District happened upon a stone outcrop—the perfect spot to shelter from a storm—and in the fine soil beneath it found sherds of prehistoric pottery undisturbed by the ages. Enoree District Archaeologist Mike Harmon said of the site “There are only four I know of: Flanagan’s Rock on the Enoree River, Neal Shoals On the Broad River, Slippery Rock, which is on a small stream and now this one beside these drains that run into the Enoree.”
From the artifacts preserved at the new site, Harmon estimates that use of the shelter dates to the prehistoric Indians of the area.
Harmon said “The pottery found here indicates that it’s either from the Woodland or Mississippian periods, so that puts it about 1000 to 3000 years old.” This shelter, said Harmon, might well have served as kind of a landmark, easily seen from below. “It would have been a great place to get out of the weather, and, facing west, would have offered the warmth of the evening sun.” Mike Harmon said “This is about as magical a site as we’ve found on the district.”
(click on picture for closer view)
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