It was named by the US Advisory Committee on Antarctic Names (US-ACAN) for Major E. R. Ardery, an Army Corps of Engineers observer who assisted Windmill parties in establishing astronomical control stations between Wilhelm II Coast and Budd Coast during the 1947–48 season.

It was first mapped by Operation Highjump and later visited in 1961 by M. N. Orton, a medical officer at Wilkes Station.

It was discovered by Orton during his visit to Cave Ravine, and named by ANCA.

It was named by US-ACAN for Clarence W. Mast, a member of the Wilkes Station party of 1958.

[1] The site has also been identified as an Important Bird Area by BirdLife International on the basis of the numbers of seabirds present.