Recent discovery adds to Dunbar Cave’s collection of ancient art

By Debbie Boen | March 9, 2008 |

In February Dr. Jan F. Simek, distinguished Professor of Science at UT Knoxville, came to Dunbar Cave to confirm a finding made by Dunbar Cave Staff, Nathan Smith.  Dr. Simek has concluded that it is indeed an Indian artwork in the category of a mud glyph. This means that Dunbar Cave has all three types of cave art that are possible: petroglyphs, pictographs and mud glyphs.

The first type of art is petroglyphs, images carved or incised into rock by prehistoric or neolithic peoples. Dunbar Cave has several drawings of this nature. They are concentric circles that are carved into the rock with a design similar to the pictograph shown at the right. These carvings are found along the cave tour but are very difficult to see.

The second type of cave art is Pictograms or pictographs, images produced by adding pigments of coloring to the cave wall.  The pictographs in Dunbar Cave were drawn with the carbonized charcoal on the ends of the river cane torches that the early visitors used to light their path.

The third type of cave art is what is known as a mud glyph. Mud glyphs are images traced into wet clay on cave ceilings, walls, or floors using fingers or sharp tools, and since things inside a cave do not change unless tampered with, the mud glyphs, as well as the other Indian art works, are well over 500 years old.

The mud glyph that was discovered in Dunbar cave was drawn with three fingers and formed a box with cross marks through the middle. This type of design is something that Professor Simek is familiar with in his study of the Mississippian Era Indians. The mud glyph was found in a crawl space which Park staff member David Britton identified as an area used in the past by bears as a place to hibernate during the winter.

Also found nearby is proof of neolithic visits, stoke marks which were created when the visitors cleaned off the tips of their river cane torches.

Dr. Simek plans to conduct more research on Dunbar Cave and its early inhabitants later on in the year. Dunbar Cave Park Manager announced that the cave is closed to both the public and cave staff except for the cave tours. Cave tours begin again on March 8 and 9, 22 and 23 by reservation only. Both pictographs and petrogyphs can be viewed during the cave tour. With the renewed interest these and future discoveries will likely generate it is advisable to call and make reservations well in advance for the 20 people maximum cave tours by calling (931) 648-5526.

Devilstep Hollow Cave is another culturally significant Tennessee cave with Native American art. In order to protect the cave and it’s art the State of Tennessee has closed that cave to public access.  See a video at: http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/VIDEO08/80226001

Photographs of Dunbar Cave and the Neolithic art

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