Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-12-23
A NEW GAVE.
Reliable Inform alton in Reference to q
Wonderful Find In Tennessee.
rom tAs RdsheFlls Unior

/
| More than two months ago Mr.. Arson
Nelson, the recording secretary of the Ten
nessee Historical Society, received iufor-
nation Of the exploration Of a cave con-
tanning many human skulls, and immedi-
ately wrote for information on the sub
ject. 1t is said to be wonderful "find. p
tull OF possible suggestions, He has re-
ceiYed the following letter from Mr., Stub
bleneld, which is exceedingly interest
ing:
VIOLA, TENN, Dec. i4.-Anson Nelson,
Seeretary-Dear Sir: would have COM
piled with your request some time ago,
but have been so closely engaged that
could not do so. AS you want the facts
concerning the discovery made on Sept.
lS last, will try to give them as briefly
as can correctly.
''Skull Cave" is in the northern part of
Grundy county, six miles from Altamont,
on the west side of the road leading from
Altamont to McMinnville. Though it is
not over 900 yards from the road, and had
Deen visited some before, no special notice
had ever been given it until the recent dis
cOVery was made.
The mouth of the cave is a natural we'll
about feet deep, from which passage as
large as common salt barrel leads imme-
di0tely into large chamber, the length of
which will not exceed 100 yards. In order
to reach the place where the skulls were
found, one must go down a slant of % de-
grees TO the distance OF 40 or 80 feet, then
ascend another slant of 30 degrees to the
distance OF 70 feet, making the distance
from the mouth of the cave to the skulls
near $50 feet, as well as l remember.
1t seems that the bodies of the people
were placed into depression in the floor of
the cave, after which all was covered with
stalagmatic deposit to the depth of from
two to eight inches. One pillar stands
over the bones. From its base a sheet of
made rock extends in all directions. This
rock is separated from the original floor
of the cave by what suppose to be de-
cayed human flesh. just beneath the pill
lar is mass of bones mixed with the sed-
iment rock. This is evidence that the pill
lar WAS formed since the bones were put
in position. II so they must have been
put there many centuries ago, for the
formation of the rock goes on for
! only part Of the year, and very slowly
then.
There were at least twenty skulls, all
touching each other, besides which was a
bed Of bones beneath and around them, of
all parts Of the human skeleton.
Among the bones were found some
sheets of mica, few bits of mineral ore,
a stone bead, several large stone arrow
heads or spear heads, a stone pipe, a
small piece OF copper and several stones,
the use of which / cannot determine. They
are neatly polished. They are fiat ON one
side and little rounding on the other,
with beveled edges. There are two
holes drilled through each. The other
skull was found near the mouth Of the
cave and one about 20 feet from the bony
! bed.
Were l skillful geologist, l would make
a calculation as to the time that has
ELAPSED since the skeletons were placed
in their gloomy sepulchre, but as | am
| not, will submit the above to the society
as material upon which its members can
theorize at pleasure. Yours respectfully,
j. r. STUBBLEFIELD.