THE SINK HOLE AT BANDANA: A BLUE RIDGE MICA MINE REVEALS ITS PREHISTORIC PAST

Woodland period aboriginal mining activity in the Blue Ridge Mountains is a little-known and neglected aspect of North Carolina prehistory. Abundant evidence of such activity was still visible in the 19th century. Published reports of this evidence suggest that mica was the principal mineral mined, and that most of what was mined was transported to centers of Adena and Hopewell culture in the Ohio Valley, hundreds of miles away. Evidence for future study consists of large collections of tools and artifacts at several museums. A review of 19th century literature as well as visits to the Sink Hole Mine in North Carolina suggest future lines of inquiry, the chief question being who were these miners?