Mystery Unearthed: The Extraordinary Story Of Two Lenape Rock Shelters

In 1942, amateur archeologists interested in collecting local Indian artifacts, excavated two rock shelters near the town of Broomall, Pennsylvania. Their romp in the woods turned serious when they uncovered a skeleton in one of the rock shelters. Now on exhibit, see a replica of the Broomall Rock Shelters and discover how Lenape families or hunting parties may have occupied them for centuries. This unique exhibit also includes some of the hundreds of items excavated from the site such as 200 stone and bone tools, pendants, over 1000 decorated ceramics fragments, and European trade goods. This assemblage was featured in a 1947 article in the prestigious archaeological journal American Antiquity, and includes two fully-reconstructed bowls and numerous archaic stone points that may date to over 3,000 years ago. Visit us to learn the incredible story of the site’s discovery, context, excavation, and the artifacts’ journey to the Museum.