Cascadia Cave Tour

We found another Oregon historical gem that ranks up there with Hull-Oakes and Thompson Mill. It is the Cascadia Caves near Sweet Home.

Unfortunately, the cave is on private land (for now), and requires a Forest Service approved tour. Fortunately, the tour included a very animated archaeologist/story-teller named Tony Farque.

Human use of the cave dates back 8000 years, and includes a myriad of cave art. The location is situated at the cross-roads of the North-South and East-West migration trails of the Indians and was an important Salmon harvesting location. Tony made the art come alive with stories and interpretations and spoke engagingly for an hour and a half while we ate lunch.

He showed us some replica artifacts that would have been used by the Kalapuya.

The Kalapua were egalitarian and had female shaman and leaders. I can't wait to see what these ladies aspire to.

I can't recommend this tour enough. It left me with a deep respect for a people who had an obviously deep connection with nature. Unfortunately, the next tour won't be till next June! The Forest Service only has two tours a year.  Find out more at http://www.recreation.gov/tourDetails.do

I've put  more photo on Picasa.