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TAG CAVING FAQ |
WHAT IS TAG?
TAG simply stands for the geographical area defined by the state boundaries of Tennessee Alabama and Georgia. The geologic history within a portion of this area has created a complex terrain of exposed limestone bedrock that has produced over 13,000 known caves.
WHO COINED THE TERM TAG?
Based on an interview of Jim Wilbanks, he and Richard Schreiber came up with the term "TAG" to identify a group of friends from the tri-state area that came together in the 1960s to explore caves in the region where the three states meet. He and Richard explored caves with an evolving group of close friends. At first they called themselves, "The Family." Experiencing discomfort with this term, Jim and Richard tried to come up with a new name for their group one night on a long drive home after a weekend of caving. They came up with the term "Southeastern Cavers" or "The Dixie Cavers", but settled on a permutation of the letters for the three Sates. As soon as they said, "TAG" they knew that this was it. It represented the area where they caved, members of their caving group came from all three states, it formed a word, and it rolled off the tongue.
WHAT DOES TAG SYMBOLIZE NOW?
From use by Richard, Jim, and their friends the term TAG rapidly expanded to identify all cavers in the tri-state region. The term has continued to expand to have deeper meaning and identification. Early TAG cavers who dominated the sport shaped it by their personality and accomplishments. The culture of TAG caving has been passed down to the succeeding generations. The "next generation" have continued to add their own contributions to TAG caving. TAG caving has undergone tremendous change in the last 40 years.