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snagglepuss

(12,704 posts) Tue Jun 18, 2013, 11:41 AM Jun 2013

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WOW. Archaeologists have discovered oldest cave art hidden for more than 6,000 years in Tennessee. [View all]

Archaeologists have discovered America's oldest cave and rock art that has remained hidden for more than 6,000 years.

The faded images were found in Tennessee's Cumberland Plateau and are believed part of the most widespread collection of such art ever found in the U.S.

Some of the pictures were drawn using shallow lines made with a pointed tool and these show events such as hunting, or depict animals that the Native Americans would have lived with and eaten.

Other images are more elaborate, depicting mythical creatures and representing the Native's spiritual beliefs.

Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2343766/American-cave-rock-art-lay-hidden-SIX-THOUSAND-YEARS-offers-unique-remarkable-insight-Native-American-societies-lived-lives.html#ixzz2WaCS62GG
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WOW. Archaeologists have discovered oldest cave art hidden for more than 6,000 years in Tennessee. [View all] snagglepuss Jun 2013 OP

Cool thanks for posting. FSogol Jun 2013 #1

Wow. Very cool. Nt xchrom Jun 2013 #2

It was only 4,000 year ago Jeff In Milwaukee Jun 2013 #3

... BrotherIvan Jun 2013 #12

I was just telling timdog44 Jun 2013 #13

+1 Myrina Jun 2013 #34

Don't they buy up artifacts too old for their narative... TheMadMonk Jun 2013 #56

I've heard that. Don't know if it's true, though (nt) Jeff In Milwaukee Jun 2013 #66

I really hope that's not true. Lunacee_2013 Jun 2013 #71

I hadn't heard it either until I watched an episode of "Bones." WorseBeforeBetter Jun 2013 #77

I searched a little, Lunacee_2013 Jun 2013 #80

Well oddly enough there are crosses figured prominently in this prehistoric art. Uncle Joe Jun 2013 #59

Are you implying that anytime two lines intersect, it's a "cross" indicating Christianity? cleanhippie Jun 2013 #69

No I was just making an observation to a post Uncle Joe Jun 2013 #76

Ahh, got it. cleanhippie Jun 2013 #79

There is a whole lot to crosses that predates Christianity Kennah Jun 2013 #81

Was that graffitti scratched over one of the drawings? Baitball Blogger Jun 2013 #4

I wondered the same thing. LuvNewcastle Jun 2013 #30

Dunbar Cave used to be a very popular site, jazzimov Jun 2013 #57

Sounds wonderful! LuvNewcastle Jun 2013 #62

The one above looks like "Wyatt" and "1847" below it jpak Jun 2013 #74

Wow, the full article is awesome! Well worth the read! nt Poll_Blind Jun 2013 #5

Shhh. That qualifies as art here in TN reflection Jun 2013 #6

Laughing (but only to keep from screaming) - nt HardTimes99 Jun 2013 #14

I think the 2nd pictograph is a T Rex holding a person's head and upper torso. Shrike47 Jun 2013 #7

Coexistence can be so challenging! redwitch Jun 2013 #24

Going to put Tennessee in a bind. Downwinder Jun 2013 #8

Tourism boards in Tennessee promote its natural areas--and science education--a-plenty. antigone382 Jun 2013 #41

So, these were all done by Adam? He's the only one around 6,000 sinkingfeeling Jun 2013 #9

The fundies here in Tennessee probably will just say Fawke Em Jun 2013 #10

I live on the Plateau Go Vols Jun 2013 #15

Clarksville and Ruby Bluff are mentioned- but it says there are sixty spread out. bettyellen Jun 2013 #17

Clarksville is around 100 Go Vols Jun 2013 #20

I live in Knoxville. Fawke Em Jun 2013 #82

Maybe the archaeologists want to keep the location secret so Cleita Jun 2013 #33

That's what I was thinking. Go Vols Jun 2013 #36

As an archaeologist, you are exactly correct. blackspade Jun 2013 #54

Right. That's why I said I'm sure they're not open to Fawke Em Jun 2013 #83

I can drive up there in a day so when they get LuvNewcastle Jun 2013 #31

Me too. I'm in North Georgia and drive up to Gatlinburg at least once a year. RebelOne Jun 2013 #47

Thanks for the post. ctsnowman Jun 2013 #11

Thanks madokie Jun 2013 #16

I wonder how many people will think the colonists did this... eom tarheelsunc Jun 2013 #18

Many Tenneseeans will think Adam and Eve must have painted them. Kablooie Jun 2013 #60

Fascinating evilhime Jun 2013 #19

This is where the RWNJs live. nt Are_grits_groceries Jun 2013 #21

Likely, they will destroy it, since it contradicts their sacred myths. closeupready Jun 2013 #22

Hmmph. It's all heathen pornography. Can't they SEE that? Buns_of_Fire Jun 2013 #23

Wait - no fugging dinosaurs? malaise Jun 2013 #25

this one was hidden behind some guano stalagtites: corkhead Jun 2013 #55

Pretty good at math, too ashling Jun 2013 #26

Aha! Paint by Number asjr Jun 2013 #27

Is this it? HomerRamone Jun 2013 #28

an offshoot of Xinai�n, eh? MisterP Jun 2013 #29

6000 Years You Say............. 1ProudAtheist Jun 2013 #32

They'll say, Flying Squirrel Jun 2013 #38

I'm not saying it was aliens, but... Hissyspit Jun 2013 #35

Well, since it is older than 6000 years Coccydynia Jun 2013 #37

What an awesome find. blackspade Jun 2013 #39

I must say those cavemen weren't very good artists. Auntie Bush Jun 2013 #40

Maybe it was 3 year olds. And their mom said, "You better clean up that mess!" tclambert Jun 2013 #43

If you haven't seen cave paintings and want to be BLOWN away by artistry that equals DaVinci snagglepuss Jun 2013 #84

I guess they did have some good artists. Auntie Bush Jun 2013 #85

6,000 is the oldest? Not even close - 35,000 years old found in Australia denem Jun 2013 #42

The Oldest... In America Motown_Johnny Jun 2013 #45

In Redneckistan or Biblevania, yes. Not in the real America. Kennah Jun 2013 #50

very funny, will have to remember those. mountain grammy Jun 2013 #67

Now, they've declared the oldest in Spain. 40,000 years. onehandle Jun 2013 #64

The NSA has had copies of those paintings for years Vinnie From Indy Jun 2013 #44

It translates to: ajk2821 Jun 2013 #46

Are you sure? Treant Jun 2013 #73

Very, very cool. spooky3 Jun 2013 #48

Ruh Roh Jamastiene Jun 2013 #49

The cave art in El Castillo causes even more denial, of Biblical proportions Kennah Jun 2013 #51

We have our best guy on it now: The Straight Story Jun 2013 #52

Marvelous! One appears to show a comet -- it's described as a "rayed circle" Hekate Jun 2013 #53

That's a cross, not a swastika but I agree, the pictures are wonderful. n/t Uncle Joe Jun 2013 #61

The one on the left is a cross, another ancient symbol that shows up everywhere Hekate Jun 2013 #63

A cross, of the Christian variety? cleanhippie Jun 2013 #70

I don't know, you would need to ask them? Uncle Joe Jun 2013 #75

Two intersecting lines a cross do not make. cleanhippie Jun 2013 #78

republicans claim ideas written in caves too modern for their platform dembotoz Jun 2013 #58

we need more atheist anthropologists is all i gotta say. mopinko Jun 2013 #65

Let's hope that vandals stay away CountAllVotes Jun 2013 #68

More naturally transcendant on our first footprints... toby jo Jun 2013 #72

Whoa, what a truly incredible find duuser5822 Jun 2013 #86