SAKWA (Cave near)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

The cave entrance is not only about 10 m by 5 m large (note 1) but also 13 m wide and 3 m high (note 2), faces north or northwest, and was found in a so-called ponor doline (note 3) in a seasonal streambed (dry in February 2005) with an unidentified local name. The entrance leads to a gravel-floored cave passage (mostly more than 1.5 m high) that descends at moderate dips initially south-east and later south. The main passage is accompanied by a wet, parallel passage with sumps and leads, about 520 m from the cave entrance, to a possibly not necessarily eternal sand plug (note 4). ETYMOLOGY: No autochthonous, indigenous or locally known name has been identified for the -Krem Sakwa“ or -Sakwa Pouk- and -Sakwa Cave- called after the name of the village of Sakwa. SITUATION: At a walking distance of about 15 minutes without orientation below the Khasi village of Sakwa (without GPS position), which was thought to lie an estimated kilometre (or so) approximately north of Sielkan (±250 m 25°1'47”N: 92°27'12”E) (after Jantschke, H 2005.02.11 Mss: Fahrtenbericht Meghalaya 2005; JANTSCHKE, H 2006: 148). APPROACH: To reach the cave, walk about 400 m from the -downtown- end (without GPS position) of Sakwa (note 5) along a path south next to a water pipe. Leave this at a point without GPS position for what had been in spring 2005 a plantation on your left (east). Some 50 m beyond the end of the plantation, descend without path steeply down into a doline (estimated 50 m in diameter and 20 m deep) containing the insurgence of a seasonally sinking stream (after Bäumler, G 2005.02.14 Mss: Krem Sakwa / Sakwa Pouk 14.2.2005). CAVE DESCRIPTION: Passage 10-15 m wide, 1.5 - 4 m high, running SE to S. After 150 m bear skull on the floor. After 200 m crossing of chest-deep 10 m long lake is needed. The now appearing water flows in a smaller passage on the left of the main tunnel and can be reached at several points. End sumps [ and the underwater part of thecave starts] on the left ad the main drag was blocked with sand [in spring 2005]. A crawl with slight draught [air flow] was followed for 20 m … [and continues] … without reaching the end (Bäumler, G 2005.02.17 Mss: Krem Sakwa / Sakwa Pouk 14.2.05). CAVE POTENTIAL: The sketch (dated 2005.02.14) in Georg -Schorsch- Bäumler's Survey Book shows at least ten crawls five wide open leads obstructed by potentially wet water. JANTSCHKE (2006: 150): In February 2005 the main passage was plugged by sand while the lateral passage was obstructed with a sump. Air currents may indicate continuations suspected to connect to Pielkhlieng Pouk (note 6). CAVE LIFE: Noticed in February 2005 were not only woodlice (Isopoda), which did not end up as decorations, but also the moisture-drenched skull of a larger carnivore, presumably bear (conf. Ursus), which was found washed into the main drag and ended up decorating the suitably addressed headman's house (JANTSCHKE, H 2006: 149-150). By February 2007, however, the skull had becme brittle and was falling apart on its own (Jantschke, H 2007.02.28, personal communication).d the main drag was blocked with sand [in spring 2005]. A crawl with slight draught [air flow] was followed for 20 m … [and continues] … without reaching the end (Bäumler, G 2005.02.17 Mss: Krem Sakwa / Sakwa Pouk 14.2.05). CAVE POTENTIAL: The sketch (dated 2005.02.14) in Georg -Schorsch- Bäumler's Survey Book shows at least ten crawls five wide open leads obstructed by potentially wet water. JANTSCHKE (2006: 150): In February 2005 the main passage was plugged by sand while the lateral passage was obstructed with a sump. Air currents may indicate continuations suspected to connect to Pielkhlieng Pouk (note 6). CAVE LIFE: Noticed in February 2005 were not only woodlice (Isopoda), which did not end up as decorations, but also the moisture-drenched skull of a larger carnivore, presumably bear (conf. Ursus), which was found washed into the main drag and ended up decorating the suitably addressed headman's house (JANTSCHKE, H 2006: 149-150). By February 2007, however, the skull had becd the main drag was blocked with sand [in spring 2005]. A crawl with slight draught [air flow] was followed for 20 m … [and continues] … without reaching the end (Bäumler, G 2005.02.17 Mss: Krem Sakwa / Sakwa Pouk 14.2.05). CAVE POTENTIAL: The sketch (dated 2005.02.14) in Georg -Schorsch- Bäumler's Survey Book shows at least ten crawls five wide open leads obstructed by potentially wet water. JANTSCHKE (2006: 150): In February 2005 the main passage was plugged by sand while the lateral passage was obstructed with a sump. Air currents may indicate continuations suspected to connect to Pielkhlieng Pouk (note 6). CAVE LIFE: Noticed in February 2005 were not only woodlice (Isopoda), which did not end up as decorations, but also the moisture-drenched skull of a larger carnivore, presumably bear (conf. Ursus), which was found washed into the main drag and ended up decorating the suitably addressed headman's house (JANTSCHKE, H 2006: 149-150). By February 2007, however, the skull had becd the main drag was blocked with sand [in spring 2005]. A crawl with slight draught [air flow] was followed for 20 m … [and continues] … without reaching the end (Bäumler, G 2005.02.17 Mss: Krem Sakwa / Sakwa Pouk 14.2.05). CAVE POTENTIAL: The sketch (dated 2005.02.14) in Georg -Schorsch- Bäumler's Survey Book shows at least ten crawls five wide open leads obstructed by potentially wet water. JANTSCHKE (2006: 150): In February 2005 the main passage was plugged by sand while the lateral passage was obstructed with a sump. Air currents may indicate continuations suspected to connect to Pielkhlieng Pouk (note 6). CAVE LIFE: Noticed in February 2005 were not only woodlice (Isopoda), which did not end up as decorations, but also the moisture-drenched skull of a larger carnivore, presumably bear (conf. Ursus), which was found washed into the main drag and ended up decorating the suitably addressed headman's house (JANTSCHKE, H 2006: 149-150). By February 2007, however, the skull had becme brittle and was falling apart on its own (Jantschke, H 2007.02.28, personal communication).