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 water flows or wind) and weathering (especially that of frost). Rock shelters can be found behind waterfalls and are typically modest in size compared to deeper formations like solutional caves.
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 List of caves Overhang (architecture) Overhang (climbing) Rock shed Simple dolmen
References
Further reading Acosta et al., 2018. "Climate change and peopling of the Neotropics during the Pleistocene-Holocene transition". Boletín de la Sociedad Geológica Mexicana.
External links