A rock shelter (also rockhouse, crepuscular cave, bluff shelter, or abri) is a shallow cave-like opening at the base of a bluff or cliff.
Formation
Rock shelters form because a relatively resistant rock
stratum such as
sandstone has formed a
cliff or bluff, while a softer stratum like
shale lies just below and is worn away by
erosion (from
Surface runoff or
Wind erosion) and
weathering (especially that of
Frost weathering).
Rock shelters can be found behind
and are typically modest in size compared to deeper formations like
.
Human habitat
Rock shelters are often important
archaeologically.
Because rock shelters form natural shelters from the weather, prehistoric humans often used them as living places, leaving behind debris, tools, and other artifacts. Rock shelters in montane areas can be of use to
mountaineers.
In western Connecticut and eastern New York, many rock shelters are known by the colloquialism "leatherman caves",[ CT Museum: Leatherman Caves] as they were inhabited by the Leatherman over three decades in the late 19th century.
Unique vegetation
The Cumberland stitchwort (
Minuartia cumberlandensis) is an endangered species of plant which is found only in rock shelters in Kentucky and Tennessee.
[ Center for Plant Conservation ]
Notable examples
See also
Further reading
External links
