AM WAR, Thangsah (Krem)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

An unspecified cave entrance (unidentified shape, unidentified dimensions, unidentified orientation, unidentified characteristics) gives access to a cave formed at a facies change of unidentified sedimentary rocks which experienced outsiders were able to interpret as half in sandstone and half in limestone, but nothing big (anonymous Arbenz, T in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 16th February, Sunday). ETYMOLOGY: The meaning and origin of the recorded cave names has not been identified but is obviously not a specific cave name and rather refers to a cave called after its location on the -am- (Amwi Khasi) = -um- (standard Khasi) or stream (of water) which is spaciously far behind (note 1). So far, merely three distinct but somehow similar cave names have been created, viz.: Krem Um War Kharpran Daly, B D (2014.01.11 Mss: Expedition 2014) Krem Am Wah anonymous McNally, D in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. (2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014Second Edit: 10th February, Monday) Krem Am War Anonymous (2014.04.05 Expedition Survey Log 2014 (8-3-2014).xls); anonymous Arbenz, T in: Brooks, S J et al. (2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 16th February, Sunday); Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 (dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc); Arbenz, T 2014.12.31 Mss: Re: ML 2014 Am Lynti nebst Am War; Arbenz, T 2015.01.02 Mss: Re: ML 2014 Am Lynti nebst Am War. SETTING: Above the orographically right (locally western) bank of the Myntu (Hari River) and on the interfluve shared with the Um Ryngka and west of the village of Thangsah (N25°10'11”: E092°12'55”) in an area where Early Palaeocene / Selandian (GOGOI, B et al. 2009) sandstones, calcareous sandstones and limestones of the Therria Formation (MATHUR & EVANS 1964) are exposed on the surface (NAG & PAL 1996). SITUATION 2014.01.11: In an unidentified setting and at an unspecified location just outside Thangsah [note 2] (Kharpran Daly, B D 2014.01.11 Mss) or, peraps, Thangsaw (note 3), a village that lies at a walking distance of one and a half hours from Kharkhana (representational approximation ±1 km N25°09'30”: E092°12'50” WGS84) steeply uphill along a paved bridle path. SITUATION 2014.04.05: At an estimated linear distance of 30 m in an unidentified direction (note 4) from the cave entrance to Krem Am Linthy (sic!) or, more likely, Krem –>Am Lynti (anonymous Arbenz, T in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 16th February, Sunday). SITUATION 2014.12.25: The entrance to this cave lies on the one-hand side in forest 300 m on bearing of 251° from Thangsah vallage [sic!] but on the other hand in beetlenut plantation some 300 m west of the village centre (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc). SITUATION 2014.12.28: The GPS position recorded for the cave entrance to Krem Am War indicates a spot which lies only 63.4 m in a direct line SSE from the GPS position reoded for the cave entrance to Krem –>Am Lynti (Gebauer H D 2014.12.28). SITUATION 2015.01.02: The cave entrance to Krem –>Am Lynti lies at an unidentified distance (either along a winding route or in a direct line) of at least 60 m NNW (ca 350°) from the cave entrance to Krem Am War, Thangsah (note 5). APPROACH: Walk from the Thangsah village centre (N25°10'11”: E092°12'55”) about 250 m along the jeep track (February 2014) towards Tarangblang and turn south (left) to walk down through a plantation of areca palms and past a small farm and its buildings to the cave entrance in a relatively low sandstone cliff at the head of a water-worn ravine (note 6)CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.04.05: No cave entrance had been noticed when Des and Richa entered this cave inspite of having suffered a relatively long trek (one and a half hours) uphill. The expedition cavers noticed in the initial part of this cave an estimated distance of 20 m with low tight continuations visable [sic! qua: visible] (McNaly, D in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 10th February, Monday). CAVE DESCRIPTION 2014.12.26: A cross-shaped entrance facing west (1.2 m high and 0.8 m wide) at the head of a small stream and gully gives access to cave passages in a limestone beneath a 5 m thick sandstone caprock. Several side passages deteriorate to crawly bits with loose boulders (note 7). CAVE CONTENTS: Sandstone boulders and gravel, clean limestone with fossils (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc). TACKLE: Kneepads advisable (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc). CAVE POTENTIAL 2014.02.10: Des McNally, obviously in the thrall of that strange insular notion according to which exclusively permanent air currents count (note 8), simply announced no draught limited prospects (McNally, D in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 10th February, Monday). CAV POTENTIAL 2014.02.16: On a Sunday falling on the 16th February in the year 2014 this cave once was for two hours in a row but, on the other hand, will remain for many years to come an interesting cave, laying half in sandstone and half in limestone, but nothing big, just low hands and knees stuff (modified after anonymous Arbenz, T in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 16th February, Sunday). CAVE POTENTIAL 2014.12.25: Some very tight unstable leads, not promising (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc). CULTURAL HISTORY - Human use washing place: Soap packets and flat slabs at entrance suggest washing place (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc)CAVE LIFE 2014.04.05: Araneae: Arachnidae: conf. Sparassidae: Heteropoda indet. Araneae: Arachnidae indet. Orthoptera indet. Larval stage of fungus gnats, Diptera: conf. Mycetophilidae indet.): From biological point of view,the cave seems to be to dry, but three big spiders Heteropoda were observed, together with interesting larva came from the ceiling, a few black crickets, and a “step worm” [flatworm? Platyhelminthes], plus other two species of small spiders (anonymous Chachula, O. in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 16th February, Sunday). CAVE LIFE 2014.12.26: Huntsman Spider, small spider with weg (specimen taken), crickets, one -walking- worm or caterpillar (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc). POTENTIAL 2014.02.16: On a Sunday falling on the 16th February in the year 2014 this cave once was for two hours in a row but, on the other hand, will remain for many years to come an interesting cave, laying half in sandstone and half in limestone, but nothing big, just low hands and knees stuff (modified after anonymous Arbenz, T in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 16th February, Sunday). CAVE POTENTIAL 2014.12.25: Some very tight unstable leads, not promising (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc). CULTURAL HISTORY - Human use washing place: Soap packets and flat slabs at entrance suggest washing place (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc)CAVE LIFE 2014.04.05: Araneae: Arachnidae: conf. Sparassidae: Heteropoda indet. Araneae: Arachnidae indet. Orthoptera indet. Larval stage of fungus gnats, Diptera: conf. Mycetophilidae indet.): From biological point of view, POTENTIAL 2014.02.16: On a Sunday falling on the 16th February in the year 2014 this cave once was for two hours in a row but, on the other hand, will remain for many years to come an interesting cave, laying half in sandstone and half in limestone, but nothing big, just low hands and knees stuff (modified after anonymous Arbenz, T in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 16th February, Sunday). CAVE POTENTIAL 2014.12.25: Some very tight unstable leads, not promising (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc). CULTURAL HISTORY - Human use washing place: Soap packets and flat slabs at entrance suggest washing place (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc)CAVE LIFE 2014.04.05: Araneae: Arachnidae: conf. Sparassidae: Heteropoda indet. Araneae: Arachnidae indet. Orthoptera indet. Larval stage of fungus gnats, Diptera: conf. Mycetophilidae indet.): From biological point of view,the cave seems to be to dry, but three big spiders Heteropoda were observed, together with interesting larva came from the ceiling, a few black crickets, and a “step worm” [flatworm? Platyhelminthes], plus other two species of small spiders (anonymous Chachula, O. in: anonymous Brooks, S J et al. 2014.04.05 Mss: Diary Meghalaya 2014 Second Edit: 16th February, Sunday). CAVE LIFE 2014.12.26: Huntsman Spider, small spider with weg (specimen taken), crickets, one -walking- worm or caterpillar (Arbenz, T 2014.12.26 dated -16-02-2014 and 1.12.2014- Mss: Krem Am War.doc).