|
Tyson Spring Cave |
| Tyson Spring Cave, located in S.E. Minnesota, is a historically significant cave, which has captivated local inhabitants for hundreds, perhaps thousands of years. A major stream flows out of its remote picturesque entrance, located at the base of towering limestone cliffs. In 1987 explorers successfully pushed through a water filled passage and walked along miles of breathtaking passages. Due to the water filled constriction, exploration and survey efforts were extremely sporadic until this cave system was purchased by the Minnesota Cave Preserve and a safe entrance shaft was created. After exploration is complete and a survey is conducted it is thought that this cave system will be 4 to 5 miles in length. In 2008 cave explorers unearthed rare extinct ice-age bones, resulting in the most significant scientific finding in any Upper Midwest cave. Tyson Spring Cave is one of the most important Pleistocene sites in the Northern United States. Read
the STORY
(How the cave
was discovered.)
Read
the ARTICLE (Bone discoveries
make front page news.) Read
the HISTORY |
Click for larger view |
This is the earliest photo of Tyson Spring Cave in existence. It was taken by a local Chatfield, MN photographer in the 1870’s using a new stereoview method. The man in the photo may indeed be Mr. Tyson himself. |
| Aaron
Brueck and Roger Kehret stand in front of the cave mouth. (Circa 1980’s)
Roger theorized that if the rock talus were removed from the stream just
outside the mouth of the cave it would cause the water level inside the
cave to recede slightly. This would allow explorers to venture beyond
a water filled passage located about 900 feet inside the cave. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Aaron
Brueck stands in front of the stream resurgence. Roger and Aaron have
removed a lot of rock, however the water was still too high in the cave
to allow access beyond the water filled passage. |
| Fellow
cavers Larry Laine and Steve Porter used SCUBA to dive through the water
filled passage in 1985. When they returned they reported that the large
main cave passage continued for an undetermined length. In Sept. 1987
Roger Kehret, Dave Gerboth and John Ackerman were successful in lowering
the water enough so that an air gap developed in the water filled passage.
John was the first non-diver to enter the cave and explore deep into the
cave system. After exploring for miles, John located the “end” of the
cave. The main passage was again blocked by water. Here John passes through
the air gap near the beginning of the cave. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Nineteen years passed before John returned to Tyson Spring Cave. Since the main cave passage was once again impassable due to high water, John Ackerman, Clay Kraus, Ted Ford, Dave Gerboth and Charles Graling removed the talus pile so entry could be made once again. John began negotiations with the landowner to purchase the cave. |
| John ventured deep into the cave to survey for a suitable man-made shaft entrance. A rope was strung through the low air space as a safety precaution. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Using
sophisticated underground equipment it was learned that the cave passed
through the landowner’s farmyard. |
| In
fact, the main passage passed directly under his barn. He requested that
we locate a more suitable entrance site. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
And
so we did. This site is located just west of the barn, but a sufficient
distance away to create some privacy. |
| The
proposed new entrance spot was pinpointed inside the cave using specialized
equipment. This unique radio gear sends signals through solid rock, which
can be captured and deciphered by surface personnel using a fine tuned
antenna. It was calculated that the cave ceiling was 114-feet below the surface. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Corn
is removed near the proposed entry site and a red flag is planted at the
exact place that the new shaft will be drilled |
| A
test hole is drilled to verify the accuracy. The cave passage was located
114-feet directly below the drill bit! |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
An
infrared camera is lowered down the hole to confirm that the new entrance
will be in the exact spot as planned. Note the barn in the background |
|
Loose soil is removed down to the limestone layer and a rig designed to
install steel casing handles the task. Now another drilling rig can park
over the top of the steel casing, and can continue the access shaft straight
down. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
The
heavy duty drill rig is poised to begin drilling the 30” diameter access
shaft. |
| The
drill rig can be seen towards the left of the photo. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Charles
Graling at the controls. |
--- Underground --- |
|
 Click for larger view |
The
new entrance. |
| Ancient
formation. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Located
within feet of entrance. |
| The
sights and sounds are breathtaking. |
 click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
The
cave system is highly decorated with pristine formations. |
| Passages
in this cave are very spacious. The temperature of the constantly flowing stream is 48 degrees. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
A long straight passage deep in Tyson Spring Cave. |
| Access
to this cave system is restricted to only a few visits per year in order
to maintain the pristine environment. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Majestic
formations serve as the gateway leading deeper into the cave. |
Huge
limestone slabs. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Climbing
over one of numerous calcite dams along the main stream passage. |
Broad
expanse of calcite flowstone. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Doctor
Jay Kennedy was the first to climb a tall dome located about 2.5 miles
from the entrance of the cave. The dome ceiling was found to be approximately
70’ above the cave floor. In 2014 Emily Hudson scaled the dome to search
for upper level passages, but there were none. |
A massive dry room located 5 minutes from the new entrance. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
There
are numerous water inlets that feed into the main stream passage. Because
most inlets originate from undiscovered tall dome pits, explorers will
follow this lead in an attempt to discover another dome. |
Dave Gerboth encounters an incredible dome located towards the rear of
the cave system. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
This
sign was hung at the natural (now gated) entrance of the cave. |
This custom built gate was installed at the natural entrance of the cave. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
In
April 2008 Clay Kraus, John Ackerman and Dave Gerboth unearthed a prehistoric
ice-age moose antler at this site while excavating moist clay from a side
passage they were exploring. Read
the account |
John Ackerman shows off the 27,000 year old Stag-moose antler at the 120’
deep entrance to the cave. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
David
Mather, national register archaeologist with the MN Historical Society,
examines the antler at the St. Paul Science Museum. |
Nothing compared to this ancient specimen, and so it was sent to the world
renowned ILL State Museum for inspection. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
The antler was
identified as belonging to an extinct ice age Stag-moose. (Cervalces
scotti) Never before had remains of this solitary browser been discovered
in this region of the United States. |
Several months after unearthing the antler, part of a sabre-tooth cat
skull (Smilodon fatalis) was discovered about 250 feet from the antler
site. The asst. curator of the ILL State Museum, Chris Widga, was present
during the discovery and transported the skull back to the museum, where
the identification was established. The specimen was then forwarded to
the Rafter Radiocarbon National Isotope Center in New Zealand for dating. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Chris
Widga, right, was present as another sabre-tooth cat bone was discovered
about 1.5 miles from the original skull site. The Isotope Center determined
that the skull was 27,000 years old. The date was shocking, but even more
profound was the fact that the nearest sabre-tooth cat remains that have
ever been found were in northern Arkansas. This revelation sent shock
waves through the scientific community. Tyson Spring Cave is now one of
the most important Pleistocene sites in the Northern United States. |
Over 175 bones
have now been discovered in Tyson Spring Cave and nearby Bat River Cave,
resulting in the most significant scientific finding in any Upper Midwest
cave. In April 2009 Penn
State lab successfully amplified and sequenced DNA from the Homotherium
sabre-toothed cat skull. This is a profound event, and is the first-and
so far only-DNA that has been extracted from any Homotherium cat south
of the Yukon. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
News
of the discovery was eventually released to the media and was widely broadcast.
Major radio and T.V. stations also reported the fantastic findings. Read the ARTICLE |
 Click for larger view |
|
 Click for larger view |
|
 Click for larger view |
|
 Click for larger view |
|
In
September 2009 geneticists meticulously deciphered the amplified and sequenced
DNA from the sabre-tooth cat skull. They were astonished to find a 100%
match to Homotherium serum, a saber-toothed cat that was even more rare
than the Smilodon fatalis in the North American record. This is the first
such specimen from the Great Lakes/Midwest region. |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
|
Genetic Clues from Sabercat Bones by National Geographic. Read the ARTICLE |
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
Matt
Covington's team is pushing forward, mapping the cave. There are many
unexplored side passages to be entered and surveyed. |
In 2007 Tami Thomsen dove the upstream sump, and followed the submerged passage for 238 feet until encountering a constriction.
|
 Click for larger view |
 Click for larger view |
In 2014 Kirk Moorhead (shown here preparing for the dive) also dove the sump. This time the water clarity was better, allowing him to see a mirrored surface above him at the constriction. Kirk attempted to push up into void, but due to the bulk of his diving gear, he was unable to do so. Does this void lead to the continuation of Tyson Spring Cave? |
|
In Jan. 2014 John Ackerman, Emily Hudson and Brett Lucas explore a side passage which is nearly filled with water, and travel almost 1/4 mile on their stomachs. Several months later they return, and begin to survey the route. In Feb. 2015 John, Emily and Kirk Moorhead move forward with the survey, and Emily discovers a stupendous 50' tall highly decorated dome. In Feb. 2016 John, Kirk and Martin Larsen survey additional passages beyond the dome before exhaustion sets in. The entire length of the passage is now over one half mile, one way. Additional trips were made in 2017, 2018 and 2019 until the explorers were stopped by constrictions. The entire length of the discovery is 3,425 feet, or .65 miles. To read the trip reports click on the link below. Read the TRIP REPORT
|
 Click for larger view |
| Tyson
Spring Cave History Home |