The study of preserved paleofeces has been particularly productive.

Preserved human waste is, in archaeological contexts, an extraordinary record of individual biology and behavior — it contains what a specific person ate in the days before it was deposited, pollen and plant material that reflect the season and the local environment, and in some cases parasite evidence that illuminates the health of the population.

The pollen analysis from Mammoth Cave paleofeces has helped establish the seasonal pattern of cave visits — primarily late spring through early summer and late fall through winter — and has contributed to the broader understanding of how the cave fits into the annual cycle of Late Archaic and Early Woodland life in the region.

Research on the textile tradition evident in the cave’s sandals and other woven objects has contributed to the understanding of plant fiber technology in prehistoric Eastern North America.