Lynch Quarry Site, Archaeological quarry site in Dunn Center, North Dakota.
Lynch Quarry Site is an archaeological quarry with over 20,000 excavation pits spread across 690 acres along Spring Creek. The pits range from roughly 3 to 10 feet in depth, and stone fragments scatter across the entire landscape.
Indigenous peoples extracted flint from this location between 11,000 BC and 1600 AD, establishing a crucial source of toolmaking material. This lengthy history of use shows how central this site was to regional supply for thousands of years.
The site served as a major trading hub where indigenous peoples distributed the extracted flint across vast distances. These exchange networks connected distant communities and reveal the economic importance of this location across centuries.
The location sits on open ground along Spring Creek, where visitors can see the numerous pit holes and stone fragments across the landscape. Bring sturdy shoes and sun protection when visiting, as the site offers little shade or shelter.
This location actually holds the largest known prehistoric flint mining complex in North America, spanning a broader expanse than just the excavation pits themselves. Researchers continue to uncover new insights about extraction techniques and trade routes that connected this site to distant regions.
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