Locus 7 Site | |
 Overview of the site | |
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| Location | North of Fayette City, Pennsylvania[2] |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 40°6′23.88″N 79°50′12.9″W / 40.1066333°N 79.836917°W |
| Area | 2.9 acres (1.2 ha) |
| NRHP reference No. | 80003495[1] |
| Added to NRHP | March 20, 1980 |
The Locus 7 Site is an archaeological site in Washington Township, Fayette County, Pennsylvania, United States. Located north of Fayette City, the site lies on a bluff over Downers Run[a] about 2,000 feet (610 m) from the Monongahela River.[b] It is believed to be the location of a former Monongahela village, but its date is uncertain; the village may have existed at any time between 900 and 1600.[2]: 2 Its location on a bluff is unusual for Monongahela village sites, but this may have contributed to its preservation; most riverside Monongahela sites in the valley of the Monongahela River have been destroyed by development.[2]: 3
Small-scale archaeological investigation at the site has revealed a wide range of pottery at the site, along with a significant amount of mussel shells; it is believed that a more extensive excavation would yield evidence of small round houses and a stockade.[2]: 2 Such a large amount of potential findings has been theorized because of the limited disturbance that the site has seen: unlike most Monongahela sites in the region, it has been damaged only by surface cultivation by local farmers who used only horse-powered equipment.[2]: 3
Locus 7's archaeological significance was recognized in 1980 when it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]
