By: Brian Roebuck & Lynn Roebuck
Recent work in historic and archaeological cave research has led cavers in the
southeastern United States to become increasingly familiar with these delicate
significant resources in numerous caves located in this geographic area.
Many saltpetre caves of the area offer glimpses into the past with saltpetre works,
casts, vats, tally marks, torch smoke marks, names of the miners, and other
interesting and historic remnants of a once thriving industry. Unfortunately cavers
in the region have also witnessed the loss of many significant historical artifacts as
well as the degradation and damage of signatures and other written symbols of the
era. Other historical resources in southeastern caves may include signatures of early
explorers, dance cave signatures and dates, remnants of moonshine operation, food
storage and preservation areas and equipment, names of locals and cave owners,
signatures of genealogical significance and a host of other resources interesting and
valuable to historians, archaeologists and cavers alike.
The prehistory of southeastern caves is also beginning to become a more heavily
researched resource especially in the last few decades as dozens of ancient cave
art sites have been discovered in the region. Research is being conducted by many
universities throughout the southeast on the use of caves for exploration, habitation,
ceremonies, mortuaries, artistry, mining and the list goes on. Much has been learned
in this increasingly endangered area of study as pressure from outside sources make
it imperative to gather as much information as possible before it is lost. It is truly a
race by under-staffed and under-funded experts to try to locate, survey, document
and protect the remaining ancient and sacred cultural resources before they are
harmed, stolen by the greedy or destroyed by the ignorant.
Identifying these resources is an ongoing learning process that takes cavers many
years to become qualified to accomplish. Good observation skills, keen interest, and
the availability of experts willing to teach the methods are key factors in becoming
proficient at identifying such resources.
While this article is not intended to make the reader an expert at identifying such
resources it will serve as a basic guide on what to observe, where to find more
information, and who to contact to make a positive identification if you happen to
locate any significant resources in a cave in the southeast region of the United
States.
Historic resources are very diverse and subject to the interpretations of historians
familiar with the region, cave location, and local history of the area. Historians are
aware of the major saltpetre operations through records kept by military contracts
with saltpetre mining companies. Many minor “mom and pop” operations also existed
during the 1812 war period through the Civil War era and at various times for local
use as well. Often the caver only finds mounds of cave dirt 3 or more feet high in a
rectangular shape about 8 feet long and 4 feet wide. This represents a cast of the
petre dirt left from mining operations. In rare cases the wood planks forming the vat
are partially or even completely intact around the petre dirt.
Often one finds tally marks along the cave passages marked in black charcoal from
sharpened torch fragments or etched into the walls. Similar methods were used by
literate miners to write their names, dates, and other information with the elaborate
penmanship of the era that must be studied carefully by modern cavers to be able to
be read.
Military units of both sides of the Civil War also visited caves and left markings,
names, dates, unit information, and other historical references. Pencils, paints,
etchings, candle smoke, torch smoke, charcoal, and mud writings were all used
by people of this era to make their marks on the cave walls and ceilings. Carbide
was not in widespread use until about 1900 or later however and should not be
considered a nineteenth century medium for writing in caves.
Later many caves were used for dance halls, taverns, and moonshine still sites in
the southeast. Often one can find evidence of such activity in the form of names and
dates, flat areas suitable for dancing, rock piles for the fire and support of moonshine
making equipment, and even a tavern or two. It is not uncommon to find layers of
cave writings on top of older writings and even prehistoric art. Modern graffiti quite
often is found atop all of this. Apparently an area of the cave that was good for
prehistoric peoples to draw on is also still a great place for more modern renderings
as well.
As you can imagine, it is important to know what to look for and how to find it so
as to be able to identify what resources may be contained within the cave. As a
responsible caver it is critical that all significant cave resources be located, identified
and documented prior to initiating any cave clean up projects or cave restoration
projects.
