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Cave Archaeology Research Team

Jan F. Simek

birdmanThe Cave Archaeology Research Team (CART) was formed in 1996 under the direction of Jan F. Simek. The stated goal of CART is the identification and documentation of caves exhibiting evidence of dark zone exploitation by prehistoric peoples, including the production of dark zone cave art, chert and mineral mining, habitation, exploration, and other uses. CART members have identified and documented numerous new dark zone cave art sites in Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, and West Virginia. CART consists of a multidisciplinary team, primarily made up of archaeologists and geologists who are experienced cavers that possess the knowledge, and equipment necessary to undertake archaeological investigations in darkzone areas of caves.

Selected Publications and Presentations

  • 2002 N.P. Herrmann. GIS Applied to Bioarchaeology: An Example from the Rio Talgua Caves in Northeast Honduras. Journal of Cave and Karst Studies 64(1):17-22.
  • 2002 J. F. Simek, J. D. Franklin, and A. Cressler. The protection and management of prehistoric cave art in the Southeast. In, Living with Caves and Karst, edited by G. T. Rea. Proceedings of the 1999 National Cave and Karst Management Symposium. Chattanooga, TN: Southeastern Cave Conservancy, pp. 184-189.
  • 2002 G. Crothers, C.H. Faulkner, J.F. Simek, P. J. Watson and P. Willey. Woodland Period Cave Use in the Eastern Woodlands. In, The Woodland Southeast, edited by D. Anderson and R. Mainfort. Tuscaloosa, AL: The University of Alabama Press, 502-524.
  • 2001 S. C. Sherwood and P. Goldberg. A Geoarchaeological Framework for the Study of Karstic Cave Sites in the Eastern Woodlands. Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology. 26(2): 145-167.
  • 2001 S. C. Sherwood and J. F. Simek (editors). Cave Archaeology in the Eastern Woodlands. Special issue of the Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology 26(2).
  • 2001 J. F. Simek, A. Cressler, C. H. Faulkner, T. M. Ahlman, B. Creswell, and J. D. Franklin. The Context of Later Prehistoric Cave Art: The Art and Archaeology of 11th Unnamed Cave, Tennessee. Southeastern Archaeology 20(2): 142-153.
  • 2001 J. F. Simek and A. Cressler. Issues in the study of southeastern prehistoric cave art. Midcontinental Journal of Archaeology 26(2):233-250.
  • 2001 J. F. Simek, S. R. Frankenburg, and C. H. Faulkner. Towards an understanding of Southeastern prehistoric cave art. In, Integrating Appalachian Highlands Archaeology, edited by S. Prezanno and L. Sullivan, Knoxville: University of Tennessee Press, pp. 49-64.
  • 2001 J.D. Franklin, J.F. Simek and A. Cressler. The art and archaeology of 22nd Unnamed Cave, Tennessee. Tennessee Caver 2(2): 13-18.
  • 2001 C. H. Faulkner and J. F. Simek. Variability in the production and preservation of prehistoric mud glyphs from southeastern caves. In, Fleeting Identities: Perishable Material Culture in Archaeological Research, edited by P. B. Drooker.. Carbondale, IL: Southern Illinois University Press, pp. 335-356.
  • 2001 S. C. Sherwood “The Geoarchaeology of the Late Pleistocene through Early Holocene at Dust Cave.” Paper presented at the 58th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference, Chattanooga, TN.
  • 2001 S. C. Sherwood and P. Goldberg “Recognition and Organization of Prepared Surfaces at Dust Cave: A Microstratigraphic Approach” Paper presented at the 66th Annual Meeting for the Society of American Archaeology, New Orleans, LA.
  • 2000 J. C. Douglas, M. O. Smith and J. F. Simek. Identification and analysis of a civil war soldier’s name in South Carthage Cave, Tennessee. Tennessee Caver 2(1): 7-12.
  • 2000 S. C. Sherwood and P. Goldberg “The Stratigraphy Of Dust Cave And Basket Cave In The Context Of The Middle Tennessee River Valley” Paper presented at the National Speleological Society Convention, Elkins West Virginia
  • 2000 A. Cressler, J.F. Simek, S. C. Sherwood, and N.P. Herrmann “Prehistoric Cave Art in West Virginia.” Paper presented at the National Speleological Society Convention, Elkins West Virginia
  • 1999 A. Cressler, J. F. Simek, T. M. Ahlman, J. L. Bennett, and J. D. Franklin. Prehistoric mud glyph cave art from Alabama. Southeastern Archaeology 18(1):35-44.
  • 1999 S. C. Sherwood “The Geoarchaeology of Dust Cave in the Context of the Middle Tennessee River Valley.” Paper presented at the 64th Annual Meeting for the Society of American Archaeology, Chicago, IL.
  • 1998 S. C. Sherwood and R. Riley “Geoarchaeological Database Development at Dust Cave, Alabama.” Paper presented at the 55th Annual Meeting of the Southeastern Archaeological Conference, Greenville, South Carolina.
  • 1998 J.F. Simek, J.D. Franklin, and S. C. Sherwood. The context of early southeastern prehistoric cave art: a report on the archaeology of 3rd Unnamed Cave. American Antiquity 63(4):663-677.
  • 1998 J.F. Simek. Recent Developments in Midsouth Cave Archaeology. In, Journeys Through TAG: 1998 National Speleological Society Convention Guidebook, edited by G. Schindel & J. Hickman, Huntsville, AL: NSS, pp. 162-167.
  • 1998 J.F. Simek. Prehistoric Cave Art. The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, edited by C. Van West. Nashville: Rutledge Hill Press. pp. 747-748.
  • 1998 J.F. Simek. Prehistoric Use of Caves. The Tennessee Encyclopedia of History and Culture, edited by C. Van West. Nashville: Rutledge Hill Press. pp. 749-750.

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