What are these cave mud mounds and their meaning if any?

Limitool

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Jun 9, 2013
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Middle TN. area
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Folks I have tried to find out what this etched mound means (outside from long ago doodling) for quite awhile with this cave. There are several ones which are so curved and blend into the cave floor and then this one which appears to have been "shaped" and/or built then a symbol carved into the left end and letters and/or symbols carved to the right. Many of the symbols have faded due to its age. This mound appears to have "sunk" into the cave floor unlike the others around. It also have an opening and/or tunnel behind it which appears to have been blocked off for whatever reason. I found another one further back which is "shaped" and it too has a tunnel behind it which goes back 8-10 ft. I'm posting this here now to try and find someone who recognizes what these are. I started a thread in "Todays Finds" named "Metal Detecting TN. Cave / Anybody done this? about 2 months ago seeking answers. HERES WHAT I'D LIKE TO KNOW NOW... Does anyone know if ancients and or native American's buried their dead within caves (YES) and create mud mounds around them? Please if you have any idea's respond here and/or in the ongoing thread on "Todays Finds" please... The photo labeled "closeup 2" is from the left side of mound. Thank you very much.... Brad
 

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Does anyone know anything on this thread about Runes or Runic inscriptions? Do any of the symbols above appear to be these?
 

I believe that you should post this under the treasure signs and symbols forum. I do see a carving of a heart..which is significant...Steve
 

I believe that you should post this under the treasure signs and symbols forum. I do see a carving of a heart..which is significant...Steve

Thanks Steve.... I already did.
 

Also are you or the cave located any were near the old Spanish trail.

Hickman Co. / Duck River / Natchez Trace ... Not up on old "Spanish trail" history and/or its location to me.
 

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Also are you or the cave located any were near the old Spanish trail.

What would you do with this scenario... WAY BACK in cave, height 24" - 30"... width 36" and stream about 3-4" deep. This mound is squared up and has an opening behind it that goes back a ways. Just getting to this point is very hard and what this structure is doing their is a mystery to me.... I cannot "explore" what is under it or behind it without destroying it....???? I'd like to know what's behind this mound in the tunnel behind it. Any ideas folks...???????
 

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Pictures two and six are of recent etchings (maybe around 100-200 years). Perhaps a clay mining operation. I would not be afraid to dig around those mounds. And how far back is "way back". A general survey like a simple line plot and measurement would help.
 

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I think a relic-hunting-quality metal detector could be helpful. I was a spelunker back in my college years, and knowing what I know now, I sure wish I'd had a metal detector with me on some of those caving trips.
 

Pictures two and six are of recent etchings (maybe around 100-200 years). Perhaps a clay mining operation. I would not be afraid to dig around those mounds. And how far back is "way back". A general survey like a simple line plot and measurement would help.

"Way back" is never stopping going forward. This included belly crawling 90% of the time. One time you have get your nose into the roof, crawl forward through 12" of water and end up on a sandbar about 30 yds. later. So to answer your question from the entrance to this point is 40 minutes.

I'll probably never before my death understand what this is that I found.
 

Wow...know what that means to me......dig here or should I say hir. You gotta get a machine in there !! Dig Brad Dig !! Looks like fun !!
 

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