Big Bone Cave

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Big Bone Cave is a cave located in Van Buren County, Tennessee that is notable both for its history and current recreational use. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a 334-acre State Natural Area^[1] in the State Park system. It is named for the discovery of the bones of a giant ground sloth in 1811. The cave was operated as a saltpeter mine, notably during the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. A variety of natural remains and human artifacts has been well preserved in the dry atmosphere of the cave.

The cave is the 7th longest mapped cave in Tennessee.

1 History
2 Speleology
3 Notes
4 Further reading
5 External links

[edit] History

Big Bone Cave is notable for the 1811 discovery of the fossil skeleton of a giant ground sloth (Megalonyx jeffersoni), from which its name is derived. The skeleton is now in the collection of the Academy of Natural Sciences in Philadelphia. Later notable discoveries, in 1971, include the fossil bones of a large, Pleistocene jaguar (Panthera onca augusta).

Big Bone Cave was mined extensively by Native Americans from about 3,000 years ago to 1,500 years ago. These people were mining medicinal salts and gypsum. The exact use of the gypsum is unknown, but it may have served some religious purpose. Other caves in the region were also mined for salts and gypsum, including Mammoth Cave, Kentucky.

Big Bone Cave was operated as a saltpeter mine (the principal ingredient of gunpowder) from 1810 to 1815, and again during the American Civil War from about 1861 through 1863. Big Bone Cave was possibly the largest ever saltpeter mining operation in the United States. Mining ceased when Tennessee was occupied by Federal troops.

Big Bone Cave was purchased by the State of Tennessee in 1974 and is now a State Natural Area in the State Park system.

[edit] Speleology

The current map of Big Bone Cave shows 9.627 miles (15.494 kilometers) of surveyed passage. That map was completed in 1979 by the Nashville Grotto of the National Speleological Society. This makes Big Bone Cave the 7th longest mapped cave in Tennessee, the 60th longest mapped cave in the United States and the 230th longest mapped cave in the world. It is securely gated and entrance is by permission only.

The National Speleological Society, the largest group of cave scientists and cave explorers in the United States, published the book "Big Bone Cave" in May, 2006. This 226 page long book by Larry E. Matthews chronicles the complete history of Big Bone Cave from prehistoric times through the present and includes 104 illustrations, mostly photographs. It can be ordered from the National Speleolgocial Society at www.caves.org or from Amazon.com.