Russell Cave National Monument:
The Southeast's Most Complete Record Through Time
by Melanie B. Bradford, Section #2 of 7

Recent History of the Doran's Cove Area

Cherokee or Not?

It is often assumed that the Cherokee were the native inhabitants of the Russell Cave area because white men encountered them during early explorations of the Jackson county area. While it is possible that some Cherokee ancestors occupied Russell Cave, it is not likely. The Cherokee language is closely related to the language of the Iroquois, inhabitants of upper portions of New York state. At some point a group of Iroquois left the tribe and traveled southward. This group became the Cherokee, a separate distinct tribe with its own language.

By 1700 the Cherokee occupied the territory stretching from Virginia to North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky and Tennessee. By 1750 the Cherokee drove the Creek Indians out of northern Alabama and northern Georgia, making possible the Cherokee occupation of the cave that continued until 1819.

If Not the Cherokee, Then Who?

Archaeological evidence suggests that early Native Americans crossed the Bering Strait from Asia to North America approximately 15,000 to 20,000 years ago during the Ice Age when the Bering Strait connected Siberia to present-day Alaska. The strait was a massive bridge fully capable of supporting migrating animals which were being pursued by the early natives. After crossing over to the North American continent, these early people gradually spread throughout both North and South America.

When examining pre-historic cultures, archaeologists use time periods to designate groups of people. These time periods are based on the lifestyles, advancements and technology of the people under consideration. Essentially, there are four periods archaeologists use to refer to ancient peoples:

Paleo - Before 12,000 B.C. - 7,000 BC
Archaic - 7,000 BC - 1,000 BC
Woodland - 1,000 BC - 800 AD
Mississippian - 800 AD - 1500 AD

In the southeastern United States each of these periods built upon the advancements of the previous period culminating in the elaborate civilization of the Mississippian period. During this period enormous towns were constructed upon complex mounds often containing thousands of people. Trade routes stretching as far south as Mexico and as far north as the Great Lakes connected these towns.

However, as powerful and invincible as these towns seemed, something completely destroyed the Mississippian culture around 1500 AD. Possibly, some type of agricultural disaster forced the people to desert their large towns. Whatever destroyed the Mississippian culture remains a mystery.

Nevertheless, archaeologists do know that the tribes the early explorers discovered emerged from the remains of the Mississippian culture. As a result, the Russell Cave inhabitants are considered to be the Paleo Indians, Archaic Indians, Woodland Indians, and Mississippian Indians. The exact connections between the ancient people who occupied Russell Cave and modern day tribes are unknown.

John Woods:
The first recorded person to own Doran's Cove.

When the Cherokee Nation signed the McMinn Treaty of July 8, 1817, they agreed to give up all Cherokee lands east of the Mississippi. In return, they were given land they had chosen in Arkansas. However, any Cherokee person who did not want to journey to Arkansas could remain by becoming a United States citizen. After becoming a citizen, the head of a household would be granted a 640 acre reservation. This land then belonged to the head of the household, but it could not be sold. The land could be passed down through the family, but if the family ever left the reservation, the land would revert back to the United States.

John Woods, a veteran of the Revolutionary War, was one of the natives granted a reservation. His reservation, still listed on TVA topographic maps, included all of Doran's Cove. The stone house John Woods built on his property approximately 100 yards north of the present day Russell Cave park entrance is considered to be the oldest home still inhabited in Jackson County.

Major James Doran and Colonel Thomas Russell

Little is known about John Woods' life. However, at some point, Major James Doran, also a Revolutionary War veteran, came to live with Woods on the reservation. In 1835, the census records showed no record of John Woods; however, Doran continued to live on the reservation. Eventually, Doran sold part of the reservation to his brother-in-law, Colonel Thomas Russell. The land belonging to Russell, which includes the cave, remained in the Russell family until purchased by Oscar Ridley in 1928. Consequently, the area is known as Doran's Cove and the cave is known as Russell Cave.

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