Russell Cave National Monument

Russell Cave National Monument

IrmaGerd! Spontaneous Alabama Road Trip!

Bridgeport, AL

10 September 2017

Introduction

Long story short [and even shorter this time]

I fled FL to AL with the cats to escape from Hurricane Irma. 

Joke on me - the storm did almost nothing to Tallahassee and the power didn't go out ever.

Joke on life - I got to get National Park passport stamps.

Main Post Here: IrmaGerd! Spontaneous Alabama Road Trip!

The Sunday morning of the weekend, I decided on a National Park agenda.

Stop 1 - Little River Canyon National Preserve

Stop 2 - Russell Cave National Monument [Right here!]

The Story

After getting my fix at Little River Canyon, I drove North right at the Tennessee border to visit Russell Cave National Monument. Again, no research and planning. I asked the rangers about the gist of the park, and they told me a brief background on the cave and said I should start with the exhibits inside the visitor center. I of course got my stamp! This park did not have much of a crowd, but I liked it that way.

Gilbert Grosvenor Visitor Center [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

Inside, I checked out the exhibits. They also offered a 7 minute video which I politely declined. Here are some interesting tidbits from the exhibit:

This is a model of what we believe the early humans in the region looked like. Experts used their knowledge of anatomy and the human remains in the cave to create it. Sadly it is not a sculpture from Prehistoric times. The main features are pronounced cheek bones, dark hair, a slender build, and just over 5' tall.

They also had a display for catching food. They were hunters and gatherers, who would've thought? Their gathered food included plants, nuts, fruits, and shellfish. No complaints over here. For hunting, they started with spears and moved on to arrows and darts. The atlatl, a spear thrower, was their main weapon.

Prehistoric humans in this cave also liked to have fun. They played games and music made from mostly animal bones and pebbles.

Prehistoric Hunters and Gatherers [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

After learning some of the history I went out the back door of the visitor center to the boardwalk. There was a grassy field to the left, and then the obvious trail directly in front of me.

Trail to the cave [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

I started down the boardwalk and came across this fork. The cave was to the left, but I also got excited about the nature trail that no one told me about!

Intersection of cave path and nature path [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

I rounded a corner and arrived to a view of the cave. While I have been in caverns and seen sinkholes, it's neat to see the collapsed limestone with a roof over it from the outside. And that there are still plants growing on top of the cave.

The boardwalk ends just under the entrance to the cave. I had a feeling I wouldn't be allowed to wander. There's more signs for me to gain knowledge though!

In Russell Cave [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

Excavation Site [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

Fun facts from the signs in the cave

Source of the fun facts [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

• Water carved the caves openings and the passageways through the cavern system. This makes it constantly changing. Since just a few inches of rain can make several feet of water, flooding commonly occurs but also drains in a few hours.
• Because of the water flowing into the cave, debris and often trash get deposited into the cave.
• Paleo-Indian Period (before 9,500 years ago)
• The cave became inhabitable 9,000-11,000 years ago. The floor is above flood level due to the cavern roof's collapsed roof, deposits from the creek flooding, and rocks falling. 
• People from this time used the cave for shelter because it contained a water supply, protection from the elements, and plenty of nearby wildlife.
• Archaic Period (9,500 - 2,500 years ago)
• Life revolved around hunting and gathering. They used the atlatl to hunt game and gathered shellfish from the Tennessee River.
• As the dirt floors gradually built up, it covered things left behind such as animal bones, broken tools, and campfire hearths.
• Woodland Period (2,500 - 1,000 years ago)
• This was the time where people transitioned from simple cave dwelling to highly developed mound villages. Cave dependence diminished as culture evolved.
• Living arrangements were semi-permanent and now had time for technological achievement such as pottery and planting crops.
• The cave was likely used during the winter as a hunting camp. They hunted in smaller, more efficient groups and graduated to the bow and arrow from the atlatl.
• Mississippian Period (1,000 - 450 years ago)



Looking out from in cave [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

• The people of this period, known as the Moundbuilders, established large permanent towns. 
• The cave was used sporadically for hunting parties or trading parties to stop as they traveled from far away regions.
• Recent History (1956 - 1958)
• The cave was named for Colonel Thomas Russell, a Revolutionary War veteran who owned the land in the 1800s.
• It is still considered to be one of the most complete archaeological records North American prehistoric cultures.
• The archaeologists of the Smithsonian Institution dug 30+ feet down from the present floor of the cave.

Nature Trail Start [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

After the quick history lesson and glimpse of the cave, I walked back toward the nature trail! Since the rangers never mentioned the trail, the brochure didn't have a trail map, and it started off as a boardwalk - I assumed this would be a typical easy short walk through the woods. Delightfully I was wrong!

Sinkhole [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

The first part of the nature trail leads to a sinkhole. This makes sense due to how the cave was made: water being a meanie-butt to limestone. To quote the sinkhole sign: "Here water attacked and slowly carried away the limestone to form a cavern within the earth's crust. When the roof became too expansive to support itself, it collapsed to create this crater-like sinkhole. It was through the same process that daylight first entered Russell Cave. Water still courses beneath the ground on which you stand; still molding and shaping the face of our planet." Oh water, you.

There were informative signs discussing the various plants and animals found on the nature walk. Since most of this park is devoted to history, they also discuss how they were used in prehistoric times. First up is Mayapple (Podophyllum peltatum L.). The roots were used as a strong purgative, "liver cleanser," worm expellant: for jaundice. Edible fruit yay! Poisonous parts of the roots and leaves boo! I can only assume that the plant directly behind the sign is Mayapple, the one with the yellow-ish leaves underneath the bottom right sign of the sign. More information about Mayapple.

The trail was very green in every direction but what gave me the butterflies was all the rocks! I loved this hike. The trees and rocks complemented each other extremely well. I came across a fork in the trail with no signs. This trail must be a loop then. Got it. I decided to walk straight.

 Nature Trail [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

My next plant learning sign was about River Cane (Arundinaria gigantea). The following photo seems like it may have some in the background? Usually it's obvious in its stature. If you follow this link or this link, you'll see that it is essentially American bamboo. The uses for river cane were: torches, arrow shafts, blowgun darts, baskets, knives, flutes, etc., etc.. So anything sturdy. Sorry for the blurry photo.

River Cane Sign [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

The next sign, which I will spare the picture of, discussed 'Wildlife in the Park'. Deer, turkey, squirrel, and bear were major portions of the prehistoric Indian diet. The black bear had the largest excavated remains. Also, they have migrated back to this area recently.

Now it's time to ROCK n roll:

Large tree down! [2017-09-10]
Russell Cave National Monument | Bridgeport, AL

Next plant! We have Shagbark Hickory (Carya ovata). In the photo I believe it is the plant on the bottom left. Plant ID is difficult, at least for me, but I'm trying to get better. I at least now have a tree book! The hickory nuts were consumed as is, and the sweet hickory milk was used in cooking corn cakes and hominy. The inner bark helped make yellow dye.

I love when there is green stuff growing on the path. So much green!

And now more rocks!

I finally spot a sign regarding trails, mileage, and arrows. I started on the "nature trail", but I'd like to see what the "hiking trail" is all about. I have no idea how long this hike will be, but what's another 0.6?

Here are plenty more photos of rocks and trees in case you were worried I forgot about them.

I loved the trees that looked like they were growing directly out of the rocks.

Beautyberry

A tree fell over, but another tree was nice enough to hold it up. Also the leaves look so awesome.

I didn't realize how much I had climbed until I started the descent. It was steep, check out these switchbacks.

There were oak benches scattered across the trail. A sign finally mentioned them. Horses brought the logs up the trail. Most of the benches looked dandy at all, but the one two photos down - anyone else think it might be a bit uncomfortable?

Hmmmm

The "hiking trail" looked like it went directly into the "nature trail" and brought me back to the intersection with no sign from the direction I did not choose. I turned right and headed on out.

One last tree photo, and then the boardwalk at the end of my hike.