Russell Cave, in northeastern Alabama, is one of only seven National Monument sites that were created specifically for the protection of caves. The cave has considerable archeological deposits, with a long period of human occupation that spanned at least 9,000 years. It is one of the oldest rock shelters in the eastern United States, and is an important part of our nation's National Park System. The rock shelter was created from a sinkhole collapse that formed the shelter, today measuring approximately 30 by 60 meters. The shelter area has a streambed that forms part of the cave floor, and suffers from erosional impacts especially along areas of the shelter walls.