Russell Cave has a mapped length of 7.2 miles and is the third longest cave in Alabama. A natural spring flows into the cave for 1.5 miles which flow into Widow's Creek and feeds into the Tennessee River. The rock from which Russell Cave was carved was formed over 300 million years ago at the bottom of an inland sea covering the region and is made of limestone. About 9,000 to 12,000 years ago, the collapse of a cavern roof beneath a hillside near Doran's Cove created a sinkhole and exposed Russell Cave.
Russell Cave was declared a National Monument by President John F. Kennedy in 1961 because of its historical and natural significances. The right entrance of the cave provided shelter from inclement weather and the left entrance provided fresh flowing water, making Russell Cave a seemingly perfect home for the early inhabitants. In addition, the surrounding area provided plenty of wild game and edible vegetations
Artifacts recovered from excavations done in the right entrance of the cave include spearpoints from the Paleo-Indian period, atlatl counterweights from the Archaic period, arrow points from the Woodland period, and pottery sherds from the Mississippian period. The extensive collection of artifacts paints a comprehensive picture of the continuous use of Russell Cave throughout time.
