Jones Branch Indians

[Mountain Dog]

I found the following and posted it in response to another link dealing with ideas for an overnighter on Dugger.  I thought I'd also make it a separate post for visibility and perhaps help if anyone in the future did a forum search on the topic.  
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 Report this postReply with quote Re: Hello, trip report and questions
by hetairoi » Tue Nov 25, 2008 8:57 pm

I'm not sure where my friend got this, but here is the line and GPS coords I have

Point Name: DMW005: Cross stream to a carved-out rock face that is the site of a centuries-old Native American dwelling Location: 33.84483°, -85.62823°

Point Name: DMW006: Carved rock face; backtrack to old road; turn R Location: 33.84704°, -85.62931°

Looking at my GPS, the road west to the rock is a little over a half mile from where the road turns to the north (probably not 2 miles from the TH). The road turns left off the Jones Branch road and there is a log across the road right at the beginning. It's not a half mile up that road to where the rock is.

Here are some pics and descriptions

http://www.angrysparrow.c...m/hetairoi/dmwhollow.html
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Here is a link to a map  http://www.trimbleoutdoor...iewTrip.aspx?tripId=27910


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[Mountain Dog]

I had trouble making the links work.  If they are still giving you problems then go to the initial posting I made in the topic about ideas for an overnighter on Dugger. 

[squidbilly]

Does anyone know of any archeological studies done in this area? I can't seem to find anything.
 Also, has anyone seen the old "Holley-Ap. 14. 42" beech tree farther up the draw from the Indian Cave? I think it is around the 1200 or 1300 ft elevation.  I saw it yesterday while exploring the area and wondered who this person was. That would be 68 years ago.

[squidbilly]

 Here's the tree
  <a href="http://www.youtube.com/v/G9A5j-ztRGM&rel=0" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/v/G9A5j-ztRGM&rel=0</a>

[bellaleo]

I have not seen the beech tree but i have been to the cave. Really neat place to check out. I wonder to if anyone has ever excavated the cave floor. there are some rocks piled in the back of the cave that makes you think it may go back farther.

If you go in on Jonas branch it is a vary short hike not even a mile i think.

[squidbilly]

Thats the way we went in.  I bet the only "excavations" here have been done long ago by early locals looking for artifacts. I may be wrong, but I don't think this was a major Indian habitation. I'm sure some hunters over the ages may have spent the night or took temporay shelter here. It looks like a  popular local camping spot from the litter(lots of beer cans that we removed) along the trail.

[stevebo]

  I read on another post that the goverment did an archeological survey of the dugger mountain area when it became a wilderness area.  There is supposed to be an official report that details their findings.  ( look on the "hike alabama"  forum, in the old posts, maybe 2 or 3 years ago.)    Have fun!   

[weathermansam]

Try contacting the JSU Field School and/or whoever runs the Archaeology Dept at JSU.  Dr. Kelly Gregg may also have some info on this or a copy of that report.  That would be where I would start. 

[bellaleo]

http://www.alabamatrail.org/hikingAL/

look for Friday DEC 18,19 2008. or type dugger in the search box. not a whole lot of info but interesting. 

I have only seen one cave my self but there are supposed to be two.

I would love to get together with a few people and see if we can find the other cave and the rock carons that are there. I am working on getting over not wonting to hike by myself but doing Dugger by myself is not a good idea. 

I'm free this weekend if your interested send me a PM. I live about 15 min form Pinky's place.

[weathermansam]

More direct link:  http://www.alabamatrail.o...d401c5170a0c&start=50

[squidbilly]

Thanks everyone, for the info.

[squidbilly]

I took the advice from "sticks" on the Hiking Alabama forum and got a copy of "The Battle For Alabama's Wilderness"by John Randolph.  I highly recommend it for anyone interested in the stories behind the process of getting wilderness designation for these three areas.  Lots of footnotes for further research too.

I spent this past weekend doing some exploring off trail. I followed the branch up past the indian cave, all the way to the top of the ridge of Dugger Mountain. We followed the ridge north to Dugger Gap and camped just north of the large campsite at the gap.  Sunday we followed a small branch down to Dry Creek and stashed our packs to explore the creek downstream. After going downstream about 3/4 mile we returned to collect our gear and hiked back out Jones Branch Road. This made for a nice loop hike with a small side trip. The Dry Creek valley is beautiful, with grassy meadows surrounded by steep hillsides.