This Missouri cave contains a 1,500-year-old sacred site. Its new owner is a mystery
An unassuming cave in Warren County, Missouri, has been named one of the most endangered historic sites in the United States by the National Trust for Historic Preservation.
Known as the Picture Cave, this rocky alcove contains hundreds of sacred pictographs created by the ancestors of the indigenous Osage Nation. The illustrations, which depict human and animal forms in Osage creation stories and ceremonies, are estimated to be as much as 1,500 years old.
Where is the Picture Cave located?
The Picture Cave sits on undeveloped forest land near Warrenton, Missouri. This tiny city of under 8,000 people is located about halfway between St. Louis and Columbia.
“The state of Missouri was really the homeland of the Osage people for about 1,300 years until they were forcibly removed to a reservation in Kansas, and later again removed to the reservation now in northeast Oklahoma,” said Sarah O’Donnell, an archaeologist who works for the Osage nation to repatriate historical artifacts.
The tribe has authorized O’Donnell to be its spokesperson on issues related to the Picture Cave.
Most of modern-day Missouri, Kansas, Arkansas, Illinois, Oklahoma and parts of many other states are the ancestral territory of the Osage Nation.
The tribe used Picture Cave as a burial site as well as a sacred space.
Why is the Picture Cave in danger?
According to the National Trust for Historic Preservation, this priceless site has endured centuries of vandalism and looting. Intruders have painted and carved over some of the pictographs and stolen artifacts from Osage burial sites within the cave.
Just last year, the cave and surrounding land were sold by their modern-day owners to an anonymous bidder for $2.2 million. While the former owners allowed researchers and Osage Nation members into the site, the new owner has not responded to repeated attempts at contact by the Osage Nation.
The tribe now fears that the anonymous new owner either does not realize the historic significance of the cave, or has plans to remove or restrict access to the sacred pictographs inside.
“Missouri does have a state law which establishes penalties for knowingly disturbing or damaging burial sites,” O’Donnell told The Star.
If the new owner disturbed the burial sites in this cave, they could be punished under this law—but with Osage Nation members and researchers barred from accessing the property, it would be difficult to know whether any disruption occurred. The pictographs are not explicitly protected by state law either.
Can I visit the Picture Cave?
No. The cave is on private land, and it is unknown what the new owner intends to do with the cave and its contents. If members of the Osage Nation successfully contact the new owner, their priority will be developing a plan to preserve and protect the site from further damage.
“The first step is just to open a line of communication,” O’Donnell said. “The Osage Nation really wants to work together with the new owner to create a plan for preservation.”
O’Donnell added that the public can help the tribe’s cause by learning about the Picture Cave and spreading the word about its significance, in hopes that the new owner will respond to its attempts at communication.
Do you have more questions about indigenous history in Missouri and Kansas? Ask the Service Journalism team at kcq@kcstar.com.
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