NOMAN's POT (aa -)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

No locally known name has been identified for a pothole cave entrance without identified shape or dimensions, which was understood to be characterised by one or another unique peculiarity beyond a sportsman's observation power and descriptive capacities. Arbenz, T (2008 Mss -Fieldbook- 73, 81) was led to believe that –>Noman's Pot (which is definitely not connected with Krem Liat Prah) is identical with Rotten Bamboo Pot (which once had been believed to give access to Krem Liat Prah). This is probably not the case (note 1). SITUATION: According to the original explorers, the so-called Noman's Pot lies at an inexplainable location. According to the recorded GPS position, it lies on the eastern flank of the Shnongrim ridge, in the dense bamboo jungle above the Snowman's Series in upper reaches of Krem –>Liat Prah, less than two walking minutes below the Shnongrim - Litang road, and a short distance west of the Shakriman track to the paddy fields of Wah Shikar.POSITIONS WGS84: N2°21'49.3”: E92°31'44.7” (unidentified EPE allegedly ±10 m): 1003 m asl (T. Arbenz, T 2005.02.14 GPS Garmin Thingambob). N25°21'50.2”: E92°31'44.8” (EPE allegedly ±24 m, D. Burke 2004.02.19, GPS Garmin Etrex) (note 2): 1007 m asl (A. Neumann 2003.02.17 GPS Garmin Vista). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A vertical drop of about 100 m (-35 m in rift, free-climb, -50 m) into small sized, wet and muddy passages leading to an unexplored sump emerging anywhere in Krem –Liat Prah. CAVE LIFE: Big (Heteropoda?) spiders (Thomas Matthalm 2003.03.09 personal communication). KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE (2007: 43 table 2) list No-man's Pot among the caves in the Sutnga area (sic!) in which the cave dwelling, nemacheilid loach Schistura prob. papulifera (Pisces: Teleostei: Balituridae) possibly has been seen because Derek Pettiglio had the impression it had been present in Feb 2003 (i.e. 17.02.2003).°21'49.3”: E92°31'44.7” (unidentified EPE allegedly ±10 m): 1003 m asl (T. Arbenz, T 2005.02.14 GPS Garmin Thingambob). N25°21'50.2”: E92°31'44.8” (EPE allegedly ±24 m, D. Burke 2004.02.19, GPS Garmin Etrex) (note 2): 1007 m asl (A. Neumann 2003.02.17 GPS Garmin Vista). CAVE DESCRIPTION: A vertical drop of about 100 m (-35 m in rift, free-climb, -50 m) into small sized, wet and muddy passages leading to an unexplored sump emerging anywhere in Krem –Liat Prah. CAVE LIFE: Big (Heteropoda?) spiders (Thomas Matthalm 2003.03.09 personal communication). KOTTELAT, HARRIES & PROUDLOVE (2007: 43 table 2) list No-man's Pot among the caves in the Sutnga area (sic!) in which the cave dwelling, nemacheilid loach Schistura prob. papulifera (Pisces: Teleostei: Balituridae) possibly has been seen because Derek Pettiglio had the impression it had been present in Feb 2003 (i.e. 17.02.2003).