Editing Montgomery County, Tennessee (section)

===Dunbar Cave===
Montgomery County lies in a region of well-developed [[karst topography]]. A large cave system under the county is named Dunbar Cave; it is the centerpiece of [[Dunbar Cave State Park]], which encompasses approximately 110 acres and is one of the most visited units in the Tennessee State Park System.

Dunbar Cave was extensively used by [[Native Americans in the United States|prehistoric Indians]], who inhabited this area for thousands of years before European encounters. Remains of their cane torches have been found in the cave, and [[Archaeology|archaeologists]] have excavated numerous artifacts inside the entrance.<ref>Matthews, Larry E. ''Dunbar Cave'', 2005, {{ISBN|1-879961-22-9}}.</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last= |first= |last2= |title=The Archaeology And Prehistoric Art Of Dunbar Cave, TN - Dave's Garden |url=https://www.davesgarden.com/guides/articles/the-archaeology-and-prehistoric-art-of-dunbar-cave-tn |access-date=January 16, 2024 |website=www.davesgarden.com}}</ref> During a research trip into the cave on January 15, 2005, Park Ranger Amy Wallace, History professor Joe Douglas, local historian Billyfrank Morrison, and Geologist Larry E. Matthews discovered Indian [[glyphs]] on the walls of the cave. Subsequent investigations by archaeologists from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville confirmed the drawings were from people of the [[Mississippian culture]], which was active about 1000-1300 CE.<ref>''Journal of Cave and Karst Studies,'' v. 74, no. 1, pp. 19–32. DOI: 10.4311/</ref><ref>Jan F. Simek, Joseph C. Douglas, and Amy Wallace, "Ancient Cave Art at Dunbar Cave State Natural Area," Tennessee Conservationist Magazine'', September/October 2007, pp. 24–26.''</ref> These glyphs were featured for a few years on the tour of the cave.

In 2010, the State of Tennessee closed Dunbar Cave to the public because [[White Nose Syndrome]] was diagnosed in a bat, and they did not want the disease to spread. The cave has since reopened, and tours are conducted seasonally, from May to August (with special hygiene procedures in place).<ref>[https://tnstateparks.com/parks/activity-detail/dunbar-cave ''Dunbar Cave - Tennessee State Park System - Cave tours'' (accessed 27 August 2020)]</ref>