Hundreds of years ago, Forbidden Caverns was known to the Eastern Woodland Indians who roamed East Tennessee’s forests and mountains in search of good hunting grounds. The cave was used as a shelter in the winter and the cave river provided a constant supply of water. Scientists believe the source of the water to be an underground lake located beneath English Mountain, now famous for its spring water. Flint or chert is found here in limited quantities and was used to create arrowheads, knives, and scrapers. The cave also contains many unique calcite formations that are still growing and boast the largest wall of rare cave onyx or dripstones known to exist.