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LuvNewcastle

(17,826 posts)

30. I wondered the same thing.

Tue Jun 18, 2013, 01:42 PM

Jun 2013

It looked like someone took his pocket knife or maybe a key and scratched letters across the image. I'm surprised there wasn't more of that, really. That area is a popular destination for camping and sightseeing for people all over the Eastern U.S. Millions of people live within a day's drive of that area, so those caves must be hidden very well or they would've been found long ago.

On Edit: That place isn't where I thought it was, so tourists aren't as common there as in other parts of eastern TN. I thought it was closer to the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, but it appears to be a good distance from there.

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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