Connley Cave Rock Shelter Field Trip

Connley Cave Rock Shelter

University of Oregon Archaeological Field School

Date: July 9, 2024

Recap

Even with afternoon temperatures forecast at 103 degrees, fourteen ASCO members headed to Connley Cave Rock Shelter where the University of Oregon was holding their Archaeological Field School. As we walked from our vehicles towards the excavation, Katelyn McDonough, Director and Principal Investigator of the Field School, greeted us with You picked a great day to visit Connley....we just found a coprolite (poop). Reaching the excavation, we saw an individual, dressed in a “bunny suit” to prevent contamination, carefully extracting the coprolite. Once protected in a  jar, we were able to ogle at the small object; likely the first time any of us ever did so over poop. It was great to be able to share in the excitement of the discovery!

Katelyn then provided a guided overview of the history and findings of years of excavations and studies at Connley. This was followed by Richie Rosencrance, Principal Investigator, providing a great overview of the results and excavation process at the current excavation at Cave 5. Following Ketelyn & Richie’s overviews, ASCO members were able to visit with the 20 students, staff, and volunteers, as well as share an ASCO-provided cooler of frozen treats. 

Thanks to Scott McKenzie for the photo of the coprolite and to Bob TImmer as trip coordinator.

Trip Posting

Connley Cave is located south of Fort Rock; about a 1 1/2-hour drive from Bend. We will meet Katelyn McDonough, Geoffrey Smith, Richie Rosencrance, and Dennis Jenkins and the University of Oregon students where they will be working. This is an exciting opportunity to learn about this important site and get an update on the current work. This will be an all-day trip. It is bound to be hot with plenty of sun, some walking over uneven ground, and a slim possibility of rattlers. You will want adequate water and a sack lunch. The trip is limited to 15 people.

Recent Presentations:

        Connley Caves by Katelyn McDonough

        15,000 Years of Great Basin Archaeology by Dennis Jenkins

         Information on the Univ. of Oregon Archaeology Field School

Trip Itinerary

- 8:00 AM - Gather at southwest corner of Walmart parking lot in Bend to check-in

- 8:15 AM - Depart for Fort Rock State Park (rest rooms) - 66 miles

- 9:30 AM - Depart Fort Rock State Park for Connley Cave. This portion of the trip will travel about 10 miles of well-graded, but dusty, gravel road followed by 1 1/2 miles on a dirt road to the Cave. They are usually quite passable with anything but a low- clearance car. 

~10:00 AM - Connley Cave visit

- Tailgate lunch with students

~ 1:00 PM - Start drive back to Bend

~ 3:00 PM - return to bend

Car pooling from the gathering at Walmart, is optional; if you do, please consider contributing for gas. High clearance cars and 4x4’s are not needed but we will be traveling on gravel/dirt roads. We will get dusty.