Photo credit: Philip LaPorta.  Diorama of Polish flint mines in Krzemionki, Poland.

The Center for the Investigation of 

Native and Ancient Quarries

a 501(c)(3), non-profit, scientific research and education organization

About Prehistoric Quarries

Ancient quarries and early mines are an endangered resource.  There is a close correlation between the location of an ancient quarry and the present-day position of historic mines and quarries.  Current research clarifies that this is, in part, due to the presence of silica (nodular and bedded cherts) in limestone and high-magnesium dolomite, two highly sought after resources supporting modern-day economies.  Quarries can also be expansive landscapes and architectural entities.  As such, ancient quarries and early mines were, and continue to be, eradicated during historic and modern-day mining enterprises, and dissected by historic and modern-day social and economic development.  Additionally, the scientific, consulting, indigenous and public communities rarely recognize quarries in the field and/or see their significance, which contributes to the decimation of the resource.  As such, through the creation of CINAQ, the founders hope to preserve these endangered resources; or if they cannot be preserved, support and undertake scientific research (quarry rescue) that will increase our understanding of these resources prior to their destruction. 

Purpose

The purpose of the Center for the Investigation of Native and Ancient Quarries (CINAQ) is to bring awareness of the existence and sophisticated nature of ancient quarries and early mines.  We wish to promote this awareness to a diverse community; scientists and private-sector consultants, industry regulators, federally-recognized indigenous peoples, and the educated public.  CINAQ plans to convey the advanced state of technological achievement represented in ancient quarries and early mines.  Additionally, CINAQ seeks recognition of ancient quarries and early mines as architectural remains, and anthropogenically modified landscapes, that have evolved not only into past political and social reference points; but also, in some cases, into sacred places.