ADI GHAR CAVES

(سپين بولدک ولسوالۍ - AF)
31.308300,66.304200
Grottocenter / carte

Description

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Altogether 27 unspecified caves or bombable hide-outs, of which 12 were cleared reported BAHMANYAR (2004: 11; photographs on pages 10 top left, 11 top right, 36 top) in connection with one Operation Mongoose where small-arms fire was answered with 2,000 lb (871.2 kg) and 500 lb (217.8 kg) bombs: The caves contain supplies such as food, water, blankets, fuel [fire wood?], mules [mule shit], and signs that wounded men had been treated (BAHMANYAR 2004: 11). SITUATION (BAHMANYAR 2004: 11): In the Adi Ghar mountain area [note 1] about 14 miles [more likely: 22 statute miles or 35 km in a direct line] north of Spin Boldak (note 2). CAVE 1 (BAHMANYAR 2004: 10 photograph top left): A well dressed soldier points out an obvious dark shadow (note 3) in the distance. The shadow looks like a cave entrance, oval in shape, higher than wide (1: 3 decreasing a short way in to 3: 1) and opening in the steep flank of a hillock or spur exposing stratified rocks (limestone?) without obvious solutional surace features) built up of a sequence of strata differing in thickness and consistency. CAVE 2 (BAHMANYAR 2004: 11 photograph top right): Brownish grey fumes (print with strong moiree-effect) emerge from a slightly slanting, upright, and almost rectangular cave entrance (without scale except two solitary plants: possibly about 1 or 2 m high and a third less wide) with a floor covered with angular brocken stones. The host rock consists of thin bedded, frequently broken strata (limestone? siltstone?) decomposing to angular rubble. CAVE 3 (BAHMANYAR 2004: 36 photograph top): A low but wide dark area (without scale) below slightly vaulted ceiling of what appears to represent a horizontal band of massive rock (limestone?) without obvious dissolution forms but vertically dissected. The area in front of the -cave- entrance is littered with angular rocks or boulders (size not knowable) and seems to rise towards the interior where the floor is covered with what appears to consist of a fine-graied, dry, and cream coloured sedimentary deposit (silt?, mud? sand?).ed, dry, and cream coloured sedimentary deposit (silt?, mud? sand?).

Documents

Bibliography 06/01/2018

History

EXPLORATION HISTORY: 2002.01.09: U.S.-led Coalition forces, consisting of 300 men, identify 27 caves and clear 12 of them – U.S. and allied warplanes then pound the cave complex with 2,000 and 500 lb bombs. In fire exchanges, at least 18 rebel fighters are killed. A U.S. AH-64 helicopter comes under small-arms fire. This is part of Operation Mongoose (BAHMANYAR 2004: 11). Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

Caves nearby

Distance (km)NameLength (m)Depth (m)
89.8BOLAN BABA (Ghar)
114.5De Jyalizi Mene Cave
118.2Borankhel Mene Cave
119.0MOHAMMAD SAFIG MENA (Cave of)
120.2Soltan Menah (Cave of)
120.9MUMMIYA GHAR, Or Dobolagh
197.5MARGHUNDAY (Cave on the)
237.6TAPA SENAWBAR (Grotta del)
238.0Sangdara (Grotta del)