KARAKORUM CAVE (de TERRA 1931)
34.100000,76.800000
Description
An east-facing cave entrance »6 feet« (1.8 m) in diameter, leads to an unidentified "cave" (TERRA 1931: 42-43, 47-50, plates 6b and 7 between pages 44-45) characterised by an unidentified shape and unidentified dimensions combined with an unidentified orientation and unidentified characteristics. SITUATION (TERRA 1931): At an unspecified location somewhere in the upper slope of the gorge in the lower »Murgistan valley« or »Murgistong« (note 1), a tributary to Shyok / Sheyok river, between Sassir La (note 2) and Nubra (N34°45': E77°25'), and about 75 km in a direct line approximately north of Leh (N34°10': E77°35') on the route to Yarkend (Yarkand, Jarkand). CULTURAL HISTORY - archaeology: Sort of an "archaeological excavation" of the partial filling (on the basis of presumption considered a younger Pleistocene loess clay) yielded already at a depth of »1 1/2 feet« (0.45 m) below the surface a pointed implement made from flint (absent in the area).
NOTE 1: »Murgistan« (TERRA 1931) but »Murgistong« (TERRA 1940 illustration 12). NOTE 2: »Sassir La« (TERRA 1940) and »Saser La« (NEVE, Arthur 1910: The ranges of the Karakoram) is indicated as »Sirsir La« near N34°06': E76°48' (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) on AMS sheet NI43-08 and as »Saser La« in the India Road Atlas (Eicher Goodearth 2006: 3 E2). LONELY PLANET (India 2003: 320) mentions one »Sisir La (4850 m)« in connection with the trek from Padum (pages 291, 318-319; indicated as »Padam« near N33°27' E76°51' on AMS sheet NI43-12, U502 series, 1963 edition) via Singge to Lamayuru: »From Phatoksar the trail crosses Sisir La (4850 m) to the village of Honupatta. It is a further stage to the ancient monastery at Wanla before finally crossing Prinkiti La (3750 m) to Lamayuru Gompa and onward transport by bus or truck to Leh.«
Documents
Bibliography 30/03/2016History
EXPLORATION HISTORY: 1914: According toTERRA (1931: 47) August Hermann FRANCKE (1926?) came across a cave in the Nubra valley when he travelled in 1914 from Yarkend (Yarkand, Jarkand) via Karakoram Pass (India Road Atlas, Eicher Goodearth 2006: 3 F1) to Leh. 1929: Emil Trinkler and Helmut de TERRA (1940: 5) stumble on »Sassir La« (Saser La) across a "cave" with rock art. 1932, May 24, 13h: In the the shadow of the cave Habiba Mir and Sultana Mir (cooks from "Kashmir") served dinner to Helmut de TERRA (1940: 46-47, 49), Rhoda Hoff de Terra, T. T. "Tom" Paterson (archaeologist), G. Evelyn Hutchinson (biologist, Yale) and Khan Sahib Afraz Gul Khan (Great Trigonometrical Survey of India).
Caves nearby
| Distance (km) | Name | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22.4 | LAMAYURU (Cave at) | ||
| 22.4 | NAROPA, Lamayuru (Cave of) | ||
| 36.3 | NYIZLAPUG CAVES | ||
| 36.4 | SASPOL (Caves of) | ||
| 69.5 | PHARKA GOMPA | ||
| 69.5 | CHEMREY GOMPA, Chimre | ||
| 79.9 | THIKSEY GOMPA (Caves at) | ||
| 87.4 | KOTSANG PHUG, Hemis | ||
| 96.1 | TAKTOK (Caves at) |