Coal river. William "Rocky" Turner. Southern West Virginia.

Event: Tour of rock shelters and camp rocks on Coal River drainage basin.
Archeological surveys on file at the Division of Environmental Protection make note of the "bedrock overhangs," sandstone outcroppings found throughout the central Appalachian Plateaus. Referred to locally as "camp rocks," these structures have for thousands of years provided shelter for people on hunting and gathering expeditions in the mountains. Not only are the areas surrounding camp rocks rich in aboriginal artifacts, but camp rocks themselves are landmarks well-known in the Coal River Valley, and serve as touchstones to historical memories. "Every big rock is named," said Pat Canterbury. In 1996, on the day after the Drews Creek ramp supper, Rocky Turner took Lyntha Eiler and I on a tour of some of the camp rocks in the area.