Dunbar Cave State Park is a 110 acre (450,000 mÃ, ²) park in Clarksville, Tennessee, located around Dunbar Cave . Dunbar Cave is the 280th largest cave complex in the world, stretching as far as 8,067 miles (13 km) deep. In front of the cave entrance is a large concrete poured structure with three different arches. This cave is located in the topographical area of ​​karst, including sinkholes, springs, and limestone rock. The man-made Swan Lake also sits in front of the cave. In March 2010 the cave was closed for tours and visitors because bats infected with white nose syndrome were found in the cave. But in August 2015, the cave trip reopens again.
Video Dunbar Cave State Park
Histori Edit
The entrance to the Dunbar Cave was populated by local prehistoric residents for thousands of years before the settlers arrived. In the late 1970s a team of archaeologists discovered artefacts dating from the Paleo Indian period, dating from 10,000 BC - 8,000 BC. Most of the artifacts discovered date back to the archaeological period, from 8,000 BC to 1,000 BC. The area, while still inhabited during the time of Woodland, dating from 1000 BC-800 AD, is not occupied due to the fact that Native Americans today have begun to rely heavily on growing plants, and the soil around the Red River and Cumberland River is more conducive to planting plants compared to the rocky terrain around the cave. During the Mississippian era, dating from 800 A.D.-1550 A.D., the cave was used by Native Americans for ceremonial purposes. There are pictographs found in caves depicting religious symbols that show that the cave is believed to be an important spiritual location. In 1784 it had been claimed by Thomas Dunbar, who paid for the land but never got the deed. Around 1790, a land-based surveyor named Robert Nelsen recognized this and claimed the land for himself. A legal battle ensued, and in 1792 the US Government awarded the land to Robert Nelsen, and the Dunbar family was removed from the ground, though the cave retained the name of Dunbar. During the Mexican-American War, the cave was used to mine burps for gunpowder. In 1858, developers saw potential in the area, along with nearby Idaho Springs, and the first cabin was built there. After the Civil War, springs and caves were acquired by J. A. Tate, who built a two-story hotel on the site.
In 1931, the area had organized various social events, including dances, concerts, and exhibitions, and needed repairs and renovations. At that time, the country had just completed a new road in front of the hotel and an opportunity arose. Some local businessmen cleared the site, adding additional recreational facilities, including concrete swimming pools, baths and tennis courts, as well as restoring and expanding the size of the hotel. The existing lake is also dammed, increasing its size to 20 acres (81,000 m²).
The Dunbar Cave was bought by Roy Acuff on April 26, 1948 for $ 150,000. ( Nashville Banner , April 27, 1948) The cave is a musical and entertainment venue, which will host big bands like Benny Goodman and Tommy Dorsey. Acuff also added a golf course adjacent to the lake. Over time the popularity of the cave and the surrounding area declined, and the hotel caught fire in 1950 and was not rebuilt.
The Dunbar Cave was purchased by McKay King in 1963. The King operated the Dunbar Cave property until his death in 1971. The swimming pool closed in 1967. The cave was inherited by his widow. (Matthews (2005), page 38.)
In 1973, the State of Tennessee, under the rule of Governor Winfield Dunn, bought the Dunbar Cave from Ny. McKay King, became the State Nature Area.
In 2002, the park closed briefly during the crisis of state budget cuts.
Petroglyphs Edit
On January 15, 2005, Amy Wallace garden specialist, geologist and author Larry E. Matthews, local historian Billy Frank Morrison, and professor of history Joe Douglas invented the original American petroglyphs at Dunbar Cave.
More than 30 pictures and paintings found in caves are dated to the Mississippian era (700 to 1300 CE) using torches and other artifacts found nearby. Some pictographs are religious symbols, with one depicting a supernatural Mississippian soldier. Their existence was publicly announced by the State of Tennessee on July 29, 2006, during the Second Annual Dunbar Cave Day, held in the National Park.
Closing the White Nose Cover 2010 Edit
Although the Dunbar Cave has only a small bat population, it is still closed from September to April to allow bats uninterrupted hibernation. In March 2010, bats with white nose syndrome were discovered by researchers from Austin Peay State University undertaking assessment of species diversity and sleep patterns. Based on the findings of infected bats, the State of Tennessee announced on March 24, 2010 that the Dunbar Cave was closed for all visitors and the tour was stopped. Since 2006 when the disease was first discovered in New York, the disease spread to Ontario, New Jersey, New Hampshire, and Tennessee, causing the death of over a million bats. Fish & amp; The Wildlife Service (USFWS) has called for a moratorium on caving activities in the affected areas, and strongly recommends that any clothing or equipment used in the area be decontaminated after each use.
Maps Dunbar Cave State Park
References Edit
Further reading Edit
- "Indian Glyphs Found in Dunbar Cave, Tennessee" by Larry E. Matthews, NSS News, v. 64, no. 12, pp 10-12.
- "Ancient Cave Art in the Natural Area of ​​Dunbar Cave Area" by Jan F. Simek, Joseph C. Douglas, and Amy Wallace, Tennessee Conservationist Magazine, v. 73, no. 5, pp 24-26.
External links Edit
- Dunbar Cave State Park
- The Friends of Dunbar Cave
- Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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