Rock shelter

A shallow natural cavity beneath an overhanging rock face that offers protection from weather and can preserve traces of human occupation.

Differential weathering: Uneven breakdown of rock caused by differences in mineral composition, structure, or exposure. Differential weathering can hollow weaker layers beneath resistant overhangs.
Stratigraphy: The study and interpretation of layered deposits and their sequence of formation. Successive shelter-floor layers can preserve a chronological record of occupation.
Archaeological excavation: The systematic removal and recording of archaeological deposits to study past human activity. Excavation reveals occupation layers and objects preserved beneath shelter floors.
Blombos Cave: A South African coastal archaeological site known for Middle Stone Age artifacts and engraved ochre. Its deposits show how a sheltered coastal site can preserve early symbolic and technological evidence.
Cave: A natural underground opening large enough for human entry, typically extending beyond a shallow recess. Its greater depth and enclosure distinguish it from a typical rock shelter.
Weathering: The breakdown or alteration of rock at or near Earth’s surface. It is the broader process that produces many shelter-forming cavities.
Taphonomy: The study of how organisms and their remains are altered between death and discovery. Sheltered conditions influence which bones and other remains survive.
Lithic analysis: The study of stone artifacts to infer their manufacture, use, and movement. Shelter deposits often preserve stone tools that document changing activities.
Hohle Fels: A cave in southwestern Germany containing major Upper Paleolithic finds, including an ivory figurine. Its protected deposits illustrate the range of artifacts preserved in sheltered settings.
Overhang: A projecting part of a rock face or cliff that extends beyond the surface below it. An overhang may provide cover without forming the recessed cavity characteristic of a shelter.

Linked from 4 pages