POWKE] ARCHEOLOGICAL INVESTIGATIONS 137 



DEKALB COUNTY 



Fort Payne Cave. — A mile south of Fort Payne is a cave in 

 Lookout Mountain, which a " boom " company some 3 ears ago con- 

 verted into a summer resort. The detritus in front of the entrance 

 was leveled off, steps constructed to the top, and a heavy stone wall 

 built across the mouth, leaving an entrance a little less than 7 feet 

 in width which was closed by gates. Inside the barrier the floor, 

 now made tolerably level, extends about 30 feet toward the rear, 

 to the natural rock wall, and is 50 feet from side to side, with a 

 roof from 6 to 15 feet high. In the wall at the rear are two small 

 openings through which explorers can pass to large chambers 

 farther within. To the right of the front chamber is a branch cave 

 which is high and wide at the beginning but soon becomes impass- 

 able from the accumulated rocks and earth rising to the roof. The 

 left side of the front chamber is continued in another branch going 

 directly back into the mountain. The roof and floor have an equal 

 slope downward to a point some rods from the beginning, the clear 

 space between them being not more than 4 feet. Beyond here the 

 roof is high and there are some large expansions. A creek flows 

 from the rear of the cave to a point estimated as 200 yards from 

 the doorway, where it sinks into the earth. The noise of its fall 

 is distinct tliroughout the front part of the cavern. There is con- 

 siderable drip, and though dry stalactites and stalagmites occur in 

 some places, over most of the front chamber their formation is still 

 in progress. Outside of the doorway the solid rock walls show on 

 each side, nowhere less than 25 feet apart. At a depth of 30 feet 

 water flows from the rock and earth between these side walls, but 

 there is no sign of solid bottom, so the depth of the cave is probably 

 more than 30 feet below the present floor. 



Under existing conditions the cave would form an excellent shelter, 

 being accessible, roomy, and with an abundant supply of fresh water. 

 The drip from the ceiling could be avoided. But it does not follow 

 that such was the case in the remote past. It is apparent that at one 

 time the creek had its outlet through the mouth and down the gorge 

 in front, the right branch of the cave being then open. From some 

 cause, probably the formation of a sink hole above, water from the 

 surface or near the surface found a way through this branch, carry- 

 ing mud and rocks sufficient to fill the front chamber to its present 

 floor, diverting the flow of the stream, and finally filling the cave 

 through which it came. While the creek was flowing, occupation 

 would be impossible, or at least inconvenient. When the mud began 

 to settle in, the front portion would be shut off. This condition would 

 hold until the stream found its new outlet and the branch cave had 

 become entirely filled ; and when these processes were completed the 



