KARAKORUM CAVE (de TERRA 1931)

(Khalsi tehsil - IN)
34.100000,76.800000
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 30/03/2016

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).

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 30/03/2016

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 30/03/2016

History

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). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 30/03/2016

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
22.4LAMAYURU (Cave at)
22.4NAROPA, Lamayuru (Cave of)
36.3NYIZLAPUG CAVES
36.4SASPOL (Caves of)
69.5PHARKA GOMPA
69.5CHEMREY GOMPA, Chimre
79.9THIKSEY GOMPA (Caves at)
87.4KOTSANG PHUG, Hemis
96.1TAKTOK (Caves at)