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Big Bone Cave
Big Bone Cave is one of the largest and most historic caves in Tennessee. The story of America's largest underground saltpeter mine, mined during the War of 1812, mined during the Civil War by confederate miners, and captured by federal troops. Mined for over 2,500 years by American Indians for minerals and medicinal salts. The discovery of three giant sloth skeletons, an ice-age jaguar skeleton, and several American Indian mummies.
220 pages, Paperback
First published May 1, 2006
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May 20, 2009
Comments From The Author:
Big Bone Cave is perhaps the most significant cave in Tennessee from both a geological and archaeological perspective. The cave received it's name in 1811 when saltpeter miners uncovered the bones of a Giant Ground Sloth. Since that time, the skeletons of at least three (3) ground sloths have been recovered from this cave. In 1970 the skeleton of a giant Pleistocene (Ice Age) jaguar was discovered in the cave.
The cave was heavily mined by prehistoric Indians for salts and they left a remarkable array of artifacts in the cave, including cane torches, woven moccasins, gourd bowls, a woven bags, and dessicated feces. This mining occured over a 2,000 year period.
The cave was mined for saltpeter, the primary ingredient of gunpowder, both during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The wooden mining artifacts remain in the cave in a remarkable state of preservation.
Currently the cave is a part of the State of Tennessee park system. This book is a complete history of the cave from prehistoric times to the present.
For reserachers there are a Guide To Place Names, a Glossary, a Chronology, a Selected Bibliography, and an Index.
Larry E. Matthews
Professional Geologist
Big Bone Cave is perhaps the most significant cave in Tennessee from both a geological and archaeological perspective. The cave received it's name in 1811 when saltpeter miners uncovered the bones of a Giant Ground Sloth. Since that time, the skeletons of at least three (3) ground sloths have been recovered from this cave. In 1970 the skeleton of a giant Pleistocene (Ice Age) jaguar was discovered in the cave.
The cave was heavily mined by prehistoric Indians for salts and they left a remarkable array of artifacts in the cave, including cane torches, woven moccasins, gourd bowls, a woven bags, and dessicated feces. This mining occured over a 2,000 year period.
The cave was mined for saltpeter, the primary ingredient of gunpowder, both during the War of 1812 and the Civil War. The wooden mining artifacts remain in the cave in a remarkable state of preservation.
Currently the cave is a part of the State of Tennessee park system. This book is a complete history of the cave from prehistoric times to the present.
For reserachers there are a Guide To Place Names, a Glossary, a Chronology, a Selected Bibliography, and an Index.
Larry E. Matthews
Professional Geologist
Displaying 1 of 1 review