Evidence File: Cactus Hill

Cactus Hill is an archaeological site in southeastern Virginia, near the Nottoway River. Archaeologists excavated layers of sandy soil and found stone tools and other traces of human activity. Some tools came from a deep layer beneath deposits associated with the end of the last Ice Age. Researchers have argued that these tools may be older than the widely accepted evidence for people in the Americas. Their age and meaning have been debated, so scientists continue to study the site and the way its layers formed. Archaeologists do not simply dig up objects and guess. They record exactly where each find is, examine the soil layers, compare objects with finds from other places, and use scientific dating methods when possible. A stone flake may show that someone shaped a tool, but one find cannot tell us a person’s name, exact age, or whole way of life. Careful context helps researchers build—and revise—explanations about the past.

Investigate the Clues

Field Notes: Keep the Context

A student team records two finds from a practice excavation. Find A is a stone flake photographed and measured in place before removal. Find B is a similar-looking flake picked up from a pile of mixed soil; its original location is unknown.

Build a Responsible Explanation