Oregon’s natural wonders are numerous and varied, from the Painted Hills to the Oregon Coast, the Columbia River Gorge to Smith Rock, and the Beaver State is a place of immense wonder and intrigue. There are some places, though, that are so mysterious that they continue to captivate experts and archaeologists… even to this day. Paisley Caves is one of those places; a place with breadcrumbs to the past that continue to be discovered.

Note: Before you visit this area, please familiarize yourself with the federal regulations that govern the protection of archaeological sites in Oregon.

Prehistoric adventures abound in the Beaver State, a place that never ceases to leave archeologists and historians in awe.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington/Flickr
But no place is quite as compelling as the Paisley Caves of Oregon. This system of four caves in the arid desert of South-Central Oregon has led to monumental, ground-breaking scientific discoveries.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington/Flickr
You see, Oregon’s Paisley Cave is considered home to the earliest known residents of North America based on human physical evidence.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington/Flickr
In 2008, a team of archaeologists, led by Dr. Dennis Jenkins with the University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural History, discovered coprolites - dried feces - containing human DNA dated more than 14,000-years-old, hailing from roughly 12,000 BCE!
Dr. Dennis LeRoy Jones/Wikipedia

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In total, workers found over 280 radiocarbon dates and DNA analysis from more than 60 coprolites from the Paisley Caves. Analysis at varying ages revealed that these occupants were omnivorous.
BLM/Wikipedia
Archaeologists and researchers also discovered a large number of bones from waterfowl, fish, and large mammals, including extinct camels, horses, and bison. These finds, from a prehistoric Paleoamerican culture, provided genetic ties to Siberia or Asia, rather than a distinct wave of migration.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington/Flickr
Today, Paisley Caves is managed by the Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington, and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington/Flickr
A favorite dig site for the University of Oregon Archaeological Field School, Paisley Caves continues to fuel and fan the curiosity of archeologists, who eagerly await the next big discovery.
Bureau of Land Management Oregon and Washington/Flickr

Did you know about this wondrous and ancient system of caves in Oregon… or that the Paisley Caves held so much historic significance? How wonderful!

For more prehistoric adventure in Oregon, visit this beautiful place where dinosaurs once roamed…

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Paisley Caves, Paisley, OR 97636, USA