Humans lived in Oregon more than 18,000 years ago

(JULY 14, 2023) Long ago, people lived in a special place called Rimrock Draw Rockshelter in central Oregon. Archaeologists from the University of Oregon have been digging there since 2011 to learn more about them. They found tools made of stone. They also found the teeth of animals.

In 2012, the archaeologists found pieces of camel teeth. They also found special tools. For example, a scraper was made of a special kind of rock called orange agate. There is blood from a bison still on it. Scientists believe these things are more than 15,000 years old. Why? Because they were found under the ash of an eruption of Mount St Helens. That eruption happened 15,000 years ago. Things under the ash are older.

Now, the archaeologists used a scientific method called "radiocarbon dating." This method looks at how things decay over time. They learned that the teeth are actually 18,250 years old. This means that Rimrock Draw Rockshelter is one of the oldest places where people lived in North America.

Archaeologists will keep working at Rimrock Draw this summer. They will keep looking for more clues about the animals and people who lived there a long time ago.