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The Archaeological Evidence: Two Excavations on Iron Hill

In 1974, the State of Delaware excavated several units providing evidence that this site was a prehistoric quarry used by craftsmen probably as early as the Paleo Indian Period, although no diagnostic artifacts were found to confirm this. The quarrying operation included the reduction of raw material to blanks or pre-forms which were carried away for reworking elsewhere.

In 1987, Terence Q. Vidal, of the Iron Hill Museum, performed a second excavation, funded by the Delaware Humanities Forum. In contrast to the 1974 excavation, many primary bifaces and rejected late stage bifaces were found, indicating that the site represents much more than initial procurement and reduction activities. It was both a quarry and a tool making workshop.

"That finished tools were fashioned here is supported by the recovery of finished diagnostic artifacts, an abundance of late stage rejected material, and the amount of heat-treatment present. Such activity would require an investment of time and energy not to be found in simple jasper quarrying sites." (Vidal 1988).



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