The exploitation of quartzite in the Lower Juniata and Susquehanna Valleys: Outcrops and cobble sources

Abstract

Studies at 36JU104 on the Juniata River and 36DA159 on Susquehanna River allow a comparison of the use of quartzite outcrops and river cobble sources. Travelers through the Lewistown Narrows camped at 36JU104 for over 8000 years and used Tuscarora quartzite from nearby outcrops mainly for expedient tools. At 36DA159 the inhabitants used easily obtainable stream cobbles of Tuscarora quartzite for both formal and expedient tools, although outcrops occur nearby. Quartzite use through time at the two sites is compared to examine variation in why and how quartzite was used and the role of both sites as persistent places on the landscape.