POWKE] ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 121 



accurately ascertained owing to the cramped space, but seems to be 

 5 or 6 feet. . At about that level on the outside a ledge was found on 

 both sides of the entrance and appears to continue across. If so, 

 the earth covers the part immediately in front of the cave. Neither 

 tools nor men could be found to do any trenching, but it is not prob- 

 able the shelter was ever high enough for a man to stand erect in, 

 because most, or all, of the floor earth must have come from the 

 ceiling. 



(2) A mile north of Dr. Palmer's is the McCreary Cave. The 

 entrance is from GO to TO feet across and the cavern reaches back 

 fully a hundred feet without any diminution of breadth. Two 

 branches then start under the hill. Each has been explored more 

 than a mile. From each branch flows a considerable brook. They 

 unite near the entrance, sink into the floor, and reappear as a strong 

 spring 30 feet lower in the ravine leading from the cave. The earth 

 is not more than 3 feet deep near the front. It becomes greater in 

 amount farther back, but is wet everywhere below the level of the 

 running water, consequently no excavation was practicable. Flood 

 marks show that the whole floor, except in places a strip along the 

 side walls, is completely submerged at times. On one side a rock 

 ledge or shelf above reach of the water is covered with dry loose 

 earth from 1 to 3 feet deep. This has been dug up in nearly every 

 part by treasure seekers, but nothing of human workmanship has 

 ever been found. 



(3) The Belcher Cave is 7 miles northwest of Tompkinsville. It 

 is also called IVIill Cave, because a gristmill near the foot of the hill 

 below it is run by the outflowing stream. The entrance is wide and 

 high ; the front chamber or vault is fully a hundred feet across each 

 way. But the bedrock is exposed in places and the earth is not more 

 than 2 feet thick anywhere. Water from the brook percolating 

 through this keeps the lower portion saturated. 



(4) On John Black Tuley's land, on Meshach Creek, 6 miles north- 

 east of Tompkinsville, two human skeletons were found in a small 

 opening, which has since been known as the Bone Cave. It is a room 

 not over 10 feet across at any part, in a limestone conglomerate, and 

 may be of quite recent origin. Being inconvenient of access, it is 

 not in a position for residence purposes. The skeletons, which were 

 less than 2 feet below the surface, were probably those of Indian 

 hunters. The material in which the little cave is formed will crumble 

 easily in cold weather, being rather wet from the soil water soaking 

 through the hill above it. 



There are other caves in this county, but from the descriptions 

 they do not seem at all suited even for temporary camping needs. 



