92 



BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY 



FbUT.T,. 76 



At 20 feet from the mouth the width contracts to 20 feet. The depth 

 is 120 feet in daylight to a stalagmite floor. Dry cave earth extends 

 for 35 feet from the entrance, at which distance it reaches tough, 

 sticky clay; this continues to the stalagmite. Above the clay are 

 growing stalactites. 



In front of the entrance were a few flint chips, but no indications 

 of pottery or shell. A small implement, shown in figure 22, was 



Fig. 20. — Plan of Fossil Cave. 



found which is of interest because' it was worked to a sharp point 

 at one end of a narrow drill, while the other end widened into a 

 squared form with a straight base which was dulled and polished 

 from use as a cutting tool ; the entire surface was polished from long 

 service. An object of this kind would be highly suitable for mending 

 moccasins and leggins. Finding this and nothing else strengthens 



^M/VD^i TOrv£' C^iT" or 



i,ff^B^ns^e ^ci£>- J^li^^^^J-r^. U^ ^ ~ J 



Fig. 21. — Section of Fossil Cave. 



the probability that this cave was used as a temporary camping place, 

 but was never permanently occupied. 



WILSON CAVE (31) 



Facing Barren Fork of Tavern Creek, on the farm of John R. 

 Bond, 8 miles northwest of Iberia and 12 miles southeast of Tus- 

 cumbia, is a cave celebrated by reason of a provision in the will of a 

 former eccentric owner. 



There is a small cave which has an opening in the bluff, a few feet 

 to one side of the larger cave. This can be reached only by means 

 of ladders 60 feet long. 



Jack Wilson came from Ireland and settled on Tavern (or Cavern) 

 Creek in 1822. For a number of years he lived in this cave, with 



