Unmapped Darkness: The Archaeology of Salts Cave's Early Woodland Miners

Salts Cave was used as a mineral mine by Early Woodland period cultures in Central Kentucky. Fifty years of research has shown that these people had developed culturally specific strategies and reasons for using these unusual places.

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Introduction to Cave Archaeology:    • Through the Shadow: The Archaeology o...  
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References:

Crothers, George M.
1987 An Archaeological Survey of Big Bone Cave, Tennessee and Diachronic Patterns of Cave Utilization in the Eastern Woodlands. Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.
2012 Early Woodland Ritual Use of Caves in Eastern North America. American Antiquity 77:524-541.

Pritchard, Erin Elizabeth,
2001 The Prehistoric Use of Hubbards Cave, Warren County, Tennessee. Master's Thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville.

Watson, Patty Jo
1969 The Prehistory of Salts Cave, Kentucky. Reports of Investigations No. 16. Illinois State Museum, Springfield.
1974 Archeology of the Mammoth Cave Area. Academic Press, New York and London.