Danger Cave
Great Basin Desert Culture (9000 BCE – 500 CE)·Desert Archaic / Fremont·🇺🇸 Utah, United States
About
About Danger Cave
Danger Cave in Utah, United States is a Great Basin Desert Culture (9000 BCE – 500 CE) cave attributed to Desert Archaic / Fremont culture. Stratified Desert Culture sequence excavated by Jennings 1949–53; 11 m deposits, 2,500 textile fragments, beetle-wing ornaments, 9,000-year plant remains documenting Great Basin adaptation. Systematic excavation and published survey document stratified deposits, architectural phasing and georeferenced plans. Built Natural – occupation c.9000 BCE; purpose: Winter shelter and storage for Bonneville Basin foragers. Significance includes multi-phase occupation and landscape setting at 1312 m elevation.
Why it mattersStratified Desert Culture sequence excavated by Jennings 1949–53; 11 m deposits, 2,500 textile fragments, beetle-wing ornaments, 9,000-year plant remains documenting Great Basin adaptation.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology and phasing at Danger Cave
- 02Function and labor organization for cave – ritual vs residential debate
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre model for Desert Archaic / Fremont
- 02Territorial marker / elite residence hypothesis
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- Natural – occupation c.9000 BCE
- Period
- Great Basin Desert Culture (9000 BCE – 500 CE)
- Culture
- Desert Archaic / Fremont
- Builders
- Desert Culture
- Purpose
- Winter shelter and storage for Bonneville Basin foragers
- Excavation
- Excavated
Natural – occupation c.9000 BCE
Initial construction / first occupation
c.500 CE
Major refurbishment / second occupation phase
On the ground
Structures & features
40.7494° N · 114.0142° W · 1312 m · 3 mapped features
Danger Cave — Principal Monument
cavePrincipal Monument at Danger Cave – cave (Great Basin Desert Culture (9000 BCE – 500 CE)) – Stratified Desert Culture sequence excavated by Jennings 194
40.7504° N · 114.0132° WDanger Cave — Ancillary Complex
stratigraphyAncillary Complex at Danger Cave – stratigraphy (Great Basin Desert Culture (9000 BCE – 500 CE)) – Stratified Desert Culture sequence excavated by Jennings 194
40.7482° N · 114.0150° WDanger Cave — Outlier Feature
pictographOutlier Feature at Danger Cave – pictograph (Great Basin Desert Culture (9000 BCE – 500 CE)) – Stratified Desert Culture sequence excavated by Jennings 194
40.7514° N · 114.0127° W