Russell Cave National Monument, Alabama
When ancient humans needed a place to crash in Alabama, they picked Russell Cave and continued to use it for 10,000 years.
Today, you can walk where they lived, see where they cooked, and check out one of the Southeast’s most important archaeological sites – all in about an hour.
Here’s the story, including some of the best things to do at the Russell Cave National Monument.
300-Million-Year-Old Limestone Created This Amazing Cave
Russell Cave started forming way back when dinosaurs weren’t even a thing yet.
The limestone that makes up this cave is about 300 million years old, created when Alabama was actually a warm tropical sea near the equator.
Around 9,000-12,000 years ago, part of the cave’s roof collapsed, creating the entrance we see today and a system that stretches 7 miles (Alabama’s 3rd longest).
A Revolutionary War Veteran Named the Cave
Originally the name came after Colonel Thomas Russell, a Revolutionary War veteran from North Carolina who owned the property.
The surrounding area, called Doran’s Cove, was named after Russell’s brother-in-law, Major James Doran, who originally owned the land.
The Russell family kept ownership of the cave for generations before it passed through other private owners.
Eventually, it ended up in the hands of Oscar Ridley, who sold it to the National Geographic Society in 1956.
Early Cave Dwellers Only Lived Here During Fall and Winter Months
Evidence shows prehistoric natives mainly used it as a seasonal shelter during autumn and winter owing to its location near forests and water sources.
Archaeologists figured this out by studying deer bones and passenger pigeon remains found in the cave and atlatls (throwing sticks) used to hunt game.
They were skilled hunter-gatherers who crafted weapons from chert nodules found in nearby limestone and made short spears with stone points.
Archaeologists Dug 30 Feet Down to Uncover 10,000 Years of History
Teams uncovered a mind-boggling two tons of artifacts that tell the story of nearly 10,000 years of continuous human presence.
From the Archaic period to Woodland and Mississippian culture, the evidence is so well-preserved that researchers can track how tools and weapons evolved.
The cave’s unique conditions created a perfect time capsule, preserving everything from ancient campfire remains to tools and even human burials.
Pottery and Bow and Arrow Replaced Earlier Technologies
Around 1000 BCE, the archaeological record shows a dramatic shift in how people lived.
Pottery suddenly appears for the first time, and smaller weapon points indicate that people switched from spears to the more advanced bow and arrow.
Their bone tools became more refined, too.
These included projectile points, fishhooks dating from 7500 to 500 BCE, basketry from 7500 to 5000 BCE, and pottery from 7500 BCE to 1540 CE.
The Gilbert Grosvenor Visitor Center Showcases Excavated Artifacts
Your first stop should be the Gilbert Grosvenor Visitor Center, named after the influential editor and president of the National Geographic Society (1920-1954).
Inside, you’ll find museum displays featuring artifacts discovered during excavations, organized chronologically across four anthropological time periods.
The center also offers a 7-minute film about the monument that plays on demand in a small lecture room.
You can see fishhooks, pottery, jewelry, and weapons that were actually used by people thousands of years ago.
Wildlife Thrives Throughout the Monument’s 310 Acres
You’ll find foxes, bobcats, coyotes, white-tailed deer, armadillos, raccoons, and fox squirrels roaming the grounds.
Fox squirrels are especially interesting since they’re larger than common gray squirrels and rarely seen in this region.
Various snake species also call this place home, including copperheads, timber rattlesnakes, rat snakes, and kingsnakes.
There’s even been an otter spotted in the stream that flows into the cave.
Birdwatchers Can Spot Over 115 Bird Species Here
Researchers have identified more than 115 bird species at the monument, which is designated as site #44 on the North Alabama Birding Trail.
You can spot summer and scarlet tanagers, yellow-billed cuckoos, pileated woodpeckers, red-tailed hawks, and wild turkeys among the diverse avian population.
During migration seasons, the eastern warbler or vireo might make an appearance.
Two Hiking Trails Offer Different Ways to Experience the Monument
The monument features two trails, both offering close views of the forest, wildflowers, and Montague Mountain.
The Nature Trail is a more relaxed 0.6-mile paved path, while the Backcountry Trail gives you a more adventurous 1.2-mile dirt hike.
Though relatively short, the Backcountry Trail includes some steep sections with a 400-foot elevation gain.
If you’re looking for a challenge, here’s a shorter 0.2-mile Cutoff Trail connecting the two sides of the loop.
A Native American Festival Happens Every May Since the 1960s
Every first weekend in May, the monument hosts a vibrant Native American Festival that’s been running for decades.
This popular event features storytelling, traditional dancing, and Native American flute playing. One of the highlights is a historical reenactment of a Cherokee encampment.
Throughout the festival, you can watch demonstrations of traditional weaponry making, flintknapping (how they made arrowheads), atlatl throwing, and bow and arrow use.
Other demonstrations showcase wood carving, pottery making, and ancient fire-starting techniques—all skills that cave dwellers would have used in their daily lives.
President Kennedy Declared This Site a National Monument in 1961
Russell Cave gained official recognition when President John F. Kennedy declared it a National Monument on May 11, 1961.
Before becoming a protected site, the National Geographic Society purchased 310 acres surrounding the cave from landowner Oscar Ridley in 1956.
They conducted extensive excavations with the Smithsonian Institution and eventually donated the land to the American people.
Visitors Can Enjoy the Monument Year-Round at No Cost
The site is open year-round, seven days a week from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM Central Time, only closing on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
Located at 3729 County Road 98 in Bridgeport, Alabama, it sits in the northeastern corner of the state near the Tennessee border.
The cave shelter is about a 5-minute walk from the visitor center via an elevated wooden boardwalk. Most visitors spend between one and three hours exploring.
There’s even a small picnic area near the visitor center where you can enjoy lunch surrounded by the beauty of Northeast Alabama.
The post Ancient Tools and Cooking Fires Reveal 10,000 Years of Human Habitation in This Alabama Cave appeared first on When In Your State.