The Indian Staircase consists of footholds scooped out of the stone. It leads to and from a massive rock shelter (100 yds by 60 ft) inhabited by the Adena Indians over 1700 years ago. Archaeologists have dated the Adena in Kentucky at a span of 500 years between 200 BC and 300 AD.  The Adena are responsible for the many mounds we see in Kentucky. Strangely they did not live in close proximity to said mounds. They are estimated to have lived in smaller clans in places like the rock shelter below. Little is known about their daily living.