This article is about the geological formation. For landslip protection, see Rock shed.
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. In contrast to solutional caves (karst), which are often many miles long, rock shelters are almost always modest in size and extent.
Rock shelters form because a rock stratum such as sandstone that is resistant to erosion and weathering has formed a cliff or bluff, but a softer stratum, more subject to erosion and weathering, lies just below the resistant stratum, and thus undercuts the cliff.
In arid areas, wind erosion (Aeolian erosion) can be an important factor in rockhouse formation. In most humid areas, the most important factor in rockhouse formation is frost spalling, where the softer, more porous rock underneath is pushed off, tiny pieces at a time, by frost expansion from water frozen in the pores. Erosion from moving water is seldom a significant factor.
Shepherds' rock shelter in Lahaul, IndiaBawa Yawan rockshelter, sieving of excavated depsits at a Paleolithic site in Iranian Zagros, April 2017Rock shelter at Strouds Run State Park
Rock shelters are often important archaeologically. Because rock shelters form natural shelters from the weather, prehistoric humans often used them as living-places, and left behind debris, tools, and other artifacts. In mountainous areas the shelters can also be important for mountaineers.
Transhumant nomads, people who move with their livestock - often from lower permanent winter residences in the valleys to higher summer pastures - frequently build semi-permanent camps, often of rocks.
In western Connecticut and eastern New York, many rock shelters are known by the colloquialism "leatherman caves",[1] as they were inhabited by the Leatherman over three decades in the late 19th century.
Unique vegetationEdit
The Cumberland stitchwort (Minuartia cumberlandensis) is an endangered species of plant which is found only in rock shelters in Kentucky and Tennessee.[2]
See alsoEdit
Bhimbetka rock shelters – 30,000+ years old archaeological World Heritage site in Madhya Pradesh, India
^Center for Plant Conservation 2010-12-15 at the Wayback Machine
Further readingEdit
Acosta et al., 2018. "Climate change and peopling of the Neotropics during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition". Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana.
External linksEdit
Media related to Rock shelters at Wikimedia Commons
August 25, 2023
rock, shelter, abri, redirects, here, other, uses, abri, disambiguation, this, article, about, geological, formation, landslip, protection, rock, shed, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, cit. Abri redirects here For other uses see Abri disambiguation This article is about the geological formation For landslip protection see Rock shed This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Rock shelter news newspapers books scholar JSTOR October 2022 Learn how and when to remove this template message 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 In contrast to solutional caves karst which are often many miles long rock shelters are almost always modest in size and extent The rock shelter for which Indian Cave State Park is namedRock shelter in the Little Carpathians Contents 1 Formation 2 Human habitat 3 Unique vegetation 4 See also 5 References 6 Further reading 7 External linksFormation EditRock shelters form because a rock stratum such as sandstone that is resistant to erosion and weathering has formed a cliff or bluff but a softer stratum more subject to erosion and weathering lies just below the resistant stratum and thus undercuts the cliff In arid areas wind erosion Aeolian erosion can be an important factor in rockhouse formation In most humid areas the most important factor in rockhouse formation is frost spalling where the softer more porous rock underneath is pushed off tiny pieces at a time by frost expansion from water frozen in the pores Erosion from moving water is seldom a significant factor Many rock shelters are found under waterfalls Rock shelter formation types By frost weathering By cutting a karst gallery By river erosionHuman habitat Edit Shepherds rock shelter in Lahaul India Bawa Yawan rockshelter sieving of excavated depsits at a Paleolithic site in Iranian Zagros April 2017 Rock shelter atStrouds Run State ParkRock shelters are often important archaeologically Because rock shelters form natural shelters from the weather prehistoric humans often used them as living places and left behind debris tools and other artifacts In mountainous areas the shelters can also be important for mountaineers Transhumant nomads people who move with their livestock often from lower permanent winter residences in the valleys to higher summer pastures frequently build semi permanent camps often of rocks In western Connecticut and eastern New York many rock shelters are known by the colloquialism leatherman caves 1 as they were inhabited by the Leatherman over three decades in the late 19th century Unique vegetation EditThe Cumberland stitchwort Minuartia cumberlandensis is an endangered species of plant which is found only in rock shelters in Kentucky and Tennessee 2 See also EditBhimbetka rock shelters 30 000 years old archaeological World Heritage site in Madhya Pradesh India Fincha Habera Rock Shelter Middle Stone Age archeological site in southern Ethiopia Gatecliff Rockshelter Archaeological site in the Great Basin area of the western United States Kinlock Shelter Rock shelter and Native American cultural site in Alabama Mesa Verde National Park U S national park in Colorado Overhang architecture Architectural Roofing Feature Roc aux Sorciers Cave and archaeological site with prehistoric art in France Rock shed Road protection structure Shelter Rock Rock shelter in Nassau County New York USA Simple dolmen Early form of dolmen or megalithic tomb Walnut Canyon National Monument Protected area in Coconino County ArizonaReferences Edit CT Museum Leatherman Caves Center for Plant Conservation Archived 2010 12 15 at the Wayback MachineFurther reading EditAcosta et al 2018 Climate change and peopling of the Neotropics during the Pleistocene Holocene transition Boletin de la Sociedad Geologica Mexicana External links Edit Media related to Rock shelters at Wikimedia Commons Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Rock shelter amp oldid 1165867665, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
