Squirrel Hill Site
Location:
Description:
The Squirrel Hill Site, situated in northeastern Westmoreland County, Pennsylvania, USA, is an archaeological site of significant historical importance. Positioned in St. Clair Township to the west of New Florence, it once served as a prominent Monongahela village during the pre-contact era.
Perched atop a bluff overlooking the Conemaugh River, northwest of Squirrel Hill, a prominent summit near New Florence, the village site has a long history of agricultural use since European settlement. The continuous plowing of the land has unearthed numerous artifacts, indicating the site's archaeological significance. The presence of darkened soil suggests a dense population resided there in the past.
Research confirms that the Squirrel Hill Site was one of the largest Monongahela villages in the Ohio River valley. Similar to the Johnston Site nearby, it likely featured circular houses surrounding a central plaza, enclosed by a stockade. Discoveries at the site include flint tools, pottery fragments, and various bone remains, with human burials anticipated given the burial practices of the Monongahela.
Despite occasional disturbances from agricultural activities and a dirt road traversing the property, much of the artifact-rich layers remain intact. The well-preserved nature of the site presents an invaluable opportunity to enhance our understanding of the late prehistoric Johnston phase.
In recognition of its archaeological significance, the Squirrel Hill Site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1980, highlighting its importance in preserving and studying the region's cultural heritage.
