Folks,

The US Forest Service archaeologists have recently located a prehistoric
chert quarry in Augusta County which contains copious evidence of subsurface
mining. Some prospects are small circular endeavors while others are larger
U-shaped mining areas while sub-standard chert chunks thrown to one side. In
25 years of survey within the Blue Ridge, Ridge and Valley, and Appalachian
Plateau, we had not previously encountered a prehistoric mining site. We
have recorded many prehistoric quarries but all were exploiting surface
outcrops or secondary scree fields. As we have also seen thousands of
historic mines and prospects, we can difinitively state that these are
prehistoric. At first, we were very excited as we thought we had found the
first evidence of prehistoric mining in Virginia, our research has indicated
that Fowke recorded a similar site in the 19th century (outscooped by 120
years or so).

Our question is: has anyone else found prehistoric chert mines? If so,
geologic formations and site locations would be of interest. Negative
replies by those of you who have worked in the VA mountains would also be
appreciated.

MBB