Layser Cave

Layser Cave, also known as the Layser Cave Archaeological Interpretative Area, is a natural rock shelter located in Gifford Pinchot National Forest within Lewis County, Washington, approximately south of Randle, Washington. The shallow cave is open to the public via a short, steep trail and is under the oversight of the United States Forest Service (USFS).

The cave was a seasonal domestic and hunting site for indigenous people in the area, including the Upper Cowlitz and possibly the Yakama. Archaeological evidence has shown the landform to have been used for the processing of deer, elk, and salmon as early as 7,000 years ago but was abruptly abandoned approximately 3,500 years later. The abandonment was most likely due to a loss of animal and vegetation sustenance for native people due to severe volcanic eruptions and subsequent ash fallout from Mt. St. Helens during the period. With a lack of historical documentation or stories, the cave is thought to have been forgotten.

Layser Cave is named after Tim Layser, a USFS employee who rediscovered the landform accidentally in 1982. Looting and vandalism in the years after the announced finding led to a severe loss of historical artifacts. Archaeological studies began in earnest due to the losses, finding tools made of various materials, and evidence of hunting and preparation of foods. Further examinations found evidence of regional trade, as arrowheads, beads, and flora at the site were not endemic to the site or region.

The cave is formed in basalt with calcium carbonate veining, while the floor contains multiple layers of tephra.