Hidden Valley Rock Shelter
Hidden Valley Rock Shelter is an important archaeological site near Warm Springs in Bath County, Virginia. It sits in a large rockshelter by the Jackson River, on a sandstone outcrop that stays mostly above flood levels because it is about 20 feet higher than the river.
The shelter is about 90 feet long and 10 feet from the drip line to the back wall, with an irregular shape. The rear wall has vertical grooves and deep holes. It’s a tall, dramatic formation where trees grow around the edge of the shelter.
People have lived here for thousands of years. Archaeologists have found evidence from the Late Archaic period (thousands of years BC) and continued into the Late Woodland period, with artifacts from historic times as well. The site contains a wide range of materials, including simple stone points and pottery shards, showing how technology changed over generations. It also preserves many plant and animal remains, helping researchers learn about the ancient environment.
Human remains include an infant burial with dog skulls nearby, and dog bones found with the bones of an adolescent human. Some researchers think such dog burials were part of ritual practices, a theme seen at other ancient sites.
Hidden Valley Rock Shelter was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 22, 1986 (reference number 86001945). It is one of 21 Bath County locations on the Register, though the others are not primarily archaeological sites.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 07:28 (CET).