Bull Rock ( Czech Býči skála ) - the second largest cave in the Czech Republic (after the amateur cave). Located in the Moravian Karst , near the town of Adam . The length of the cave is 12-14 km. [1] It is famous for the fact that a rich burial of the Iron Age , attributed to Hallstatt culture, was found in it.
Local residents have known about the existence of the cave for a long time, fragments of ceramics and bones were often found at the entrance to the cave. In the years 1867-1869 the cave was investigated by Czech archaeologist Indřich Wankel , as a result of which the remains of a human settlement from the Paleolithic period were discovered. In subsequent studies in 1872, Wankel discovered the burial of the leader, dating back to the middle of I millennium BC. e. The burial of the leader was surrounded by 40 skeletons of men, women and children, dismembered during the sacrifices. The remains of a war chariot , iron weapons, gold and copper jewelry, a bowl from a human skull and many other artifacts were also found in the burial. In addition, a clay vessel with charred grain was found in the cave, and in it was a copper statue of a bull. The find is noteworthy in that the area where the cave is located is still called the Bull Rock. [2]
In 1945, the Germans built an underground factory in the cave, for which a new entrance was broken. The production activities of the factory hindered subsequent archaeological research. [3]
The cave has several parts separated by siphons . In the first siphon in 1911, the German speleologist G. Noah was immersed, but inappropriate equipment did not allow him to overcome the obstacle. In 1920, the siphon was pumped out using pumps and a new part of the cave with a length of 450 meters was discovered. The next siphon could not be completed for 70 years, and only a punched adit 34 meters long allowed us to explore the next part of the cave 400 meters long. [1] In 1982-1985, cavers with the help of divers gradually discovered a cave system washed by the Jedovnice Creek between the Bull Rock and the Rudicke Propadani Cave . [four]
Notes
- ↑ 1 2 Asya Chekanova. Bull Cave Cave is an archaeologist's dream . Radio Prague (07/16/2005). Date of treatment April 2, 2014.
- ↑ Bull's Rock // Great Soviet Encyclopedia : [in 30 vol.] / Ch. ed. A.M. Prokhorov . - 3rd ed. - M .: Soviet Encyclopedia, 1969-1978.
- ↑ Eva Munk. South Moravia's Bull Rock cave (inaccessible link) . The Prague Post (October 26, 2011). Date of treatment April 2, 2014. Archived on April 7, 2014.
- ↑ About us . Bull Rock Cave. Date of treatment April 2, 2014.