FOWKB] ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 115 



one of those found, perhaps all three, had died or been killed during 

 a somewhat protracted sojourn; and that only a slight covering of 

 earth, if any at all, had been placed over them. 



Two similar caves are within 8 or 10 miles, but were not visited. 



EDMONSON COUNTY 



Mammoth Caate. — For miles from the entrance saltpeter workers 

 have dug down to a level where the amount of loose rock rendered 

 further excavation too expensive. In many places walls of stone are 

 piled against the sides of the cavern. They were among the earth 

 that was removed and have been so piled to get them out of the way. 



As far back as " Chief City," 3 miles from the mouth of the cave, 

 the floor is littered with fragments of canes (reeds) and saplings, 

 which, from the appearance of the ends, were broken, twisted, or 

 bruised off with blunt tools like stone hatchets. Most of those re- 

 maining are lying on massive loose rocks now forming the floor, 

 though the ends of some are seen projecting from beneath stones 

 much larger than two men can lift. It is possible the latter have 

 recently slid or slipped from higher up the slopes, 'but the indica- 

 tions are that they have dropped from the roof since the time of 

 these early explorers. If this be the case, it points to a considerable 

 antiquity for the remains, because no such downfalls are known to 

 have occurred since the cave was first explored by white men. 



So much work has been done about the entrance of late years 

 for improving the approaches that excavation would be useless, 

 even if allowed, unless carried to a depth of more than 20 feet. 

 Such work would greatly interfere with the plans of the manage- 

 ment. 



White's Ca\^. — This is about three-fourths of a mile from Mam- 

 moth Cave. The entrance, quite small, is near the crest of a ridge, 

 and the floor descends abruptly. Only a narrow chamber exists 

 within reach of daylight, and the cave is wet all the time a short 

 distance back. 



Colossal Cave. — It is said to be 4 miles from Mammoth Cave, 

 but is really only a little more than 2 miles. The present entrance 

 is entirely artificial, the descent to the floor being about 120 feet. 

 The original entrance was in a crevice which explorers descended 

 by means of ropes. It is said that another entrance is known to 

 one man who, however, has to crawl a long distance. 



Salt Cave. — This is 4 miles from Mammoth Cave, though belong- 

 ing to the same company. The entrance is at the bottom of a conical 

 sink hole draining about an acre. Not much water runs into the 

 cave from this cause, as the surface slopes outward from the margin 

 except on one side, where a ridge leads to the hills. A spring which 

 comes out near the top of the sink falls over a ledge at the bottom 



