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Associated Press
PERRYVILLE - Excavation work is on hold at a Perryville cave that supplied water and shelter for the town's early settlers.
Archaeologists became concerned about damage to the historic landmark after finding out that the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association had authorized workers to redo the cave entrance with original stones used in a wall at the entrance.
Lori C. Stahlgren, a staff archaeologist with the University of Kentucky Department of Anthropology, said the work never should have started.
"There seems to be miscommunication," Stahlgren said.
Workers began clearing trees and brush last week from around the cavern behind the Karrick-Parks House. Chris Kolakowski, executive director of the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association, apparently authorized a company to clear away the debris and rework the cave entrance with the original stones used in a wall at the entrance.
Stahlgren inspected the work on behalf of the Heritage Council, then called Kolakowski and David Pollack of the Heritage Council. The three decided to stop the work until after a meeting on Tuesday at City Hall.
Stahlgren said Kolakowski has a proposal to reconstruct the wall around the cave but did not go through the right channels before authorizing the construction crew to begin work.
"We will decide how to save what materials can be saved, how the cave should be repaired, and who should do the work," Stahlgren said.
Mayor Anne Sleet said the Perryville City Council, which owns the property and leases it to the battlefield group, was never given a chance to review the excavation.
Stahlgren said she found a pile of dirt with some of the stones scattered about, several stones in the area at the cave entrance, and a brick sidewalk destroyed by a backhoe at the cave site.
James Tate, who is supervising the work crew for Cuddy Holbrock Contractors in Paris, said the plan was to save any artifacts found and reuse the stone taken from the cave.
Tate said a walk and railing are planned around the cave to allow visitors to view the area but not to enter the cave. Construction was to take 1½ months.
Joe Tucker, who lives nearby, said the cave runs more than five miles south of town and has other entrances.
Tucker was upset to find the stone disturbed from the cave where five pioneers spent the winter in the late 1700s.
"If the cave had not been here, Perryville wouldn't be here," Tucker said. "This is where people got their water."
Rob Willis
PERRYVILLE - Excavation work is on hold at a Perryville cave that supplied water and shelter for the town's early settlers.
Archaeologists became concerned about damage to the historic landmark after finding out that the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association had authorized workers to redo the cave entrance with original stones used in a wall at the entrance.
Lori C. Stahlgren, a staff archaeologist with the University of Kentucky Department of Anthropology, said the work never should have started.
"There seems to be miscommunication," Stahlgren said.
Workers began clearing trees and brush last week from around the cavern behind the Karrick-Parks House. Chris Kolakowski, executive director of the Perryville Battlefield Preservation Association, apparently authorized a company to clear away the debris and rework the cave entrance with the original stones used in a wall at the entrance.
Stahlgren inspected the work on behalf of the Heritage Council, then called Kolakowski and David Pollack of the Heritage Council. The three decided to stop the work until after a meeting on Tuesday at City Hall.
Stahlgren said Kolakowski has a proposal to reconstruct the wall around the cave but did not go through the right channels before authorizing the construction crew to begin work.
"We will decide how to save what materials can be saved, how the cave should be repaired, and who should do the work," Stahlgren said.
Mayor Anne Sleet said the Perryville City Council, which owns the property and leases it to the battlefield group, was never given a chance to review the excavation.
Stahlgren said she found a pile of dirt with some of the stones scattered about, several stones in the area at the cave entrance, and a brick sidewalk destroyed by a backhoe at the cave site.
James Tate, who is supervising the work crew for Cuddy Holbrock Contractors in Paris, said the plan was to save any artifacts found and reuse the stone taken from the cave.
Tate said a walk and railing are planned around the cave to allow visitors to view the area but not to enter the cave. Construction was to take 1½ months.
Joe Tucker, who lives nearby, said the cave runs more than five miles south of town and has other entrances.
Tucker was upset to find the stone disturbed from the cave where five pioneers spent the winter in the late 1700s.
"If the cave had not been here, Perryville wouldn't be here," Tucker said. "This is where people got their water."
Rob Willis
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