Alibates Flint Quarries National Monument

For thousands of years, people came to the red bluffs above the Canadian River for flint that was vital to their existence. Prehistoric people needed raw materials for tools and weapons, and Alibates flint was some of the finest. Many of the quarry pits are located on the hilltops overlooking the Canadian River. These pits vary from five to twenty five feet across, and were originally about four to seven feet deep. Over the centuries the quarry pits have filled with blowing dust and vegetation, creating the landscape that we see today.Demand for the high quality, rainbow-hued flint is reflected in the distribution of Alibates Flint through the Great Plains and beyond. Today this area is protected by the National Park Service and is the only National Monument in Texas.