Virginia Department of Historic Resources Virginia Department of Historic Resources
For additional information, read the Nomination Form PDF
VLR Listing Date 09/16/1982
NRHP Listing Date 12/13/1985
NRHP Reference Number 85003176
Identified through surface examination, the Compton Gap site dates from the Late Archaic period (ca. 2500-1000 B.C.). At the crest of the Blue Ridge, the site is likely a valuable source of information about the relationship between cultural and environmental zones in the prehistory of the mid-Atlantic region. One of the northernmost prehistoric sites identified in the Shenandoah National Park, the Compton Gap site should provide comparative data complementing the more familiar picture of Native American development in the Shenandoah Valley and the Piedmont. Because of its strategic location, the site may also provide information on the north-south and east-west movements by Native Americans.
Many properties listed in the registers are private dwellings and are not open to the public, however many are visible from the public right-of-way. Please be respectful of owner privacy.
Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark
Updated: November 8, 2018
