DO GHAR, Joy-i- Khwaja

(ولسوالی مرغاب - AF)
35.553900,63.334200
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Two neighbouring entrances (note 1) give access to the ancient man-made rock chambers (note 2). SITUATION: Near Joy-i- Khwaja (note 3) in hill of mud (note 4), which lies at a distance of about 3 km along the road and on the right-hand side of the road from Bala Morghab (note 5) to Qalay-i- Naw (note 6). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A pair of dilapidated cave entrances, about 40 m above the plain (note 7), give access to seven small, half-dark chambers interconnected by short galleries. On 22nd October 1957, the floor was covered with dirt: The ascent … was so difficult that I deemed it wisest not to make the attempt. Captain Talbot managed to get up, and made a plan with measurements … The two caves were on the same level, but the front had through the action of time crumbled away. Below them there had been another very small cave, a few feet only of it was remaining… (William Simpson in LAESSOE 1886: 96, plate 2 figure 1). CAVE LIFE: LINDBERG (1958: 123) recorded (and collected?) Thysanura andlarvae of Coleoptera (Dermestida?) and LINDBERG (1961a: 15) noted very dry bird droppings and bat guano in addition a large number of Hymenoptera nests on the chambers' ceiling and walls.Two neighbouring entrances (note 1) give access to the ancient man-made rock chambers (note 2). SITUATION: Near Joy-i- Khwaja (note 3) in hill of mud (note 4), which lies at a distance of about 3 km along the road and on the right-hand side of the road from Bala Morghab (note 5) to Qalay-i- Naw (note 6). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A pair of dilapidated cave entrances, about 40 m above the plain (note 7), give access to seven small, half-dark chambers interconnected by short galleries. On 22nd October 1957, the floor was covered with dirt: The ascent … was so difficult that I deemed it wisest not to make the attempt. Captain Talbot managed to get up, and made a plan with measurements … The two caves were on the same level, but the front had through the action of time crumbled away. Below them there had been another very small cave, a few feet only of it was remaining… (William Simpson in LAESSOE 1886: 96, plate 2 figure 1). CAVE LIFE: LINDBERG (1958: 123) recorded (and collected?) Thysanura andTwo neighbouring entrances (note 1) give access to the ancient man-made rock chambers (note 2). SITUATION: Near Joy-i- Khwaja (note 3) in hill of mud (note 4), which lies at a distance of about 3 km along the road and on the right-hand side of the road from Bala Morghab (note 5) to Qalay-i- Naw (note 6). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A pair of dilapidated cave entrances, about 40 m above the plain (note 7), give access to seven small, half-dark chambers interconnected by short galleries. On 22nd October 1957, the floor was covered with dirt: The ascent … was so difficult that I deemed it wisest not to make the attempt. Captain Talbot managed to get up, and made a plan with measurements … The two caves were on the same level, but the front had through the action of time crumbled away. Below them there had been another very small cave, a few feet only of it was remaining… (William Simpson in LAESSOE 1886: 96, plate 2 figure 1). CAVE LIFE: LINDBERG (1958: 123) recorded (and collected?) Thysanura andlarvae of Coleoptera (Dermestida?) and LINDBERG (1961a: 15) noted very dry bird droppings and bat guano in addition a large number of Hymenoptera nests on the chambers' ceiling and walls.

Documents

Bibliography 06/01/2018

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1330 (circa): Muhammad Ibn-Abdallah Awamiri Ibn BATTUTA (ca. 1355 for 1325-1354) appears to have passed by observing 'cells'. 1885 or 1866 February: M.G. Talbot of the Royal Engineers (Survey Department of the Afghan Boundary Commission) managed to get up, and made a plan with measurements of the troglodyte settlement (plan on plate 2 figure 1, opposite page 96, in: LAESSOE 1886). 1957.10.22: Knut LINDBERG (1961a: 14-15) visited, explored, and collected cave life. Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
3.3Bala Murghab (Tunnel at)
6.0BALA MURGHAB (Simpson 1886), 2nd (Caves at)
6.0Bala Murghab (Caves at)
14.0Bala Murghab (Caves at)
17.0BALA MURGHAB (Lindberg 1949) (Caves at)
33.3Maruchak (Caves at)
53.8ASHAB-i- KAHF, Alti Khwaja (Cave at)
137.1ZARMAST, Maymana (Cave at)
137.1ZARMAST POT n° 1