PHRASNAH or PHRAHSNAH (Krang)

(Khliehriat - IN)
25.229300,92.295400
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.docA closed depression or sinkhole that is an estimated 35 m across, about 25 m deep, and allows expedition cavers nol only to descend down to daylight-lit sandstone boulders, vegetation, dense overgrow but also to face a so-called the choked passage at the bottom [which] seems to lead into the limestone (contact layer visible) (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). ETYMOLOGY: The meaning, origin and history or herstory of the recorded cave name Krem Phrasna was not understood by expedition cavers in clouds (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc) but seems to combine one of the Khasi words -phra- or -phrah- (note 1) rather with -snah- (note 2) than with -sna- (sic!) insofar as the latter is a meaningless combination of Latin letters. SETTING: In an area with several conveying streams on sandstone (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Kem Phrasna.doc) that lies more than a kilometre in a direct line west but about 300 m or 350 m vertically above the orographically right bank of the Sehshympa (Prang River). SITUATION: At an unidentified location in an unspecified setting somewhere in the vicinity of the village referred to as Pnarkba (Survey of India 1922 toposheet 83-C/SW) and Pynurkhla (RAJA RAO, C S 1981: 76) or Pynurkba (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss) on the northern rim of the Lakadong - Umlatdoh Plateau and on the interfluve between the rivers Luber in the east and the Lynriang in the west. APPROACH 2014.04.05: It took about an hour to walk from Pynurkba village to Krem Phrasna (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 19th February, Wednesday). APPROACH 2014.12.26: Expedition cavers are best ordered to walk from Pynurkba [near ±250 m N25°15'04”: E092°17'30”] for one hour (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc) without consdering any direction.CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.05: A relatively big pothole about 25 m deep and 35 m across (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 19th February, Wednesday). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.29: Large pit , boulder choke (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 undated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2012.12.26: The sink in sandstone is a pit, sinkhole 35 m across, ca. 25 m deep and consists of a sink at the bottom of a 30 m sandstone pit with boulders and some vegetation in it. The choked passage at the bottom seems to lead into the limestone (contact layer visible) (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). TACKLE: 30 m rope, slings, carabiners and a rope protector (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). PROSPECTS 2014.04.29: Hopes of commencing not only to survey but also to map and thereby explore this cave were on 29th April 2014 ongoing (Arbenz, T 2014.04.29 unated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). PROSPECTS 2014.12.26: Unknown but apparently minimal. Needs digging and boulder scuring - not easy (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). CULTURAL HISTORY: Not known to Rockliff, H & Harries, D B (2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). CAVE LIFE: Noticed on 19th February 2014 were Heteropoda spiders (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc).ated Mss: Cave record overwiev 2_ 2014.xlsx). PROSPECTS 2014.12.26: Unknown but apparently minimal. Needs digging and boulder scuring - not easy (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). CULTURAL HISTORY: Not known to Rockliff, H & Harries, D B (2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc). CAVE LIFE: Noticed on 19th February 2014 were Heteropoda spiders (Rockliff, H & Harries, D B 2014.12.26 Mss: 19-02-2014 Krem Phrasna.doc).

Documents

Bibliography 06/01/2018

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 2014.02.19: A certain Em Pdang (in English: Not Cracked) with an unidentified surname instructed Brian D. Kharpran Daly, Dr. Daniel 'Dan' B. Harries, Khlur Mukhim, Adora Thabah, Shabuddin 'Shabu' Shaik, Peter Ludwig and Henry Rockcliff how to get from Pynurkba (Pnarkba on the maps) to what was recorded as Krem Phrasna. It took about an hour to walk from Pynurkba village to Krem Phrasna which was a big pothole about 25 m deep and 35 m across. The guide was keenly watching the whole time (maybe, at the instruction of the Headman) that [or, more likely, why and what for] Henry, Peter and Dan were surveying the cave (anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 19th February, Wednesday). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
2.4AA CAVE (Ludwig 2014)
2.8WANSIEJ (Krang)
2.9UM THALONG (Krem)
3.2UMPYJAW (Krang)
3.5AA CAVE (Arbenz 2014) 1st, near village well
3.5AA CAVE (Arbenz 2014) 2nd, banana doline
3.5LAKADONG 12 (Latouche 1890) (Cave at)
3.6LAKADONG A (Oldham 1859)
3.6LAKADONG E (Oldham 1859)