BUMBORET ONE CAVE

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

What appears to represent a rare troglodyte cave dwelling modified from a natural (?) rift cave (developed in a fault, geological disturbance), which is nowadays accessible only by abseiling down from above and by penduluming in (note 1), reported WILSON (1976: 103, 1977: 14), TURNER (1977a: 42-43) and Jane M. Wilson (in DURRANT et al. 1979: 20) from a cliff wall exposing shattered and loose dolomitic limestone (note 2). SITUATION: Somewhere in the vicinity of the village of Bumburet (TURNER 1977a: 43; WILSON 1976: 103; 1977: 14) or Brumbunet (M. Kalmus, in: CÍLEK et al 1989: 11), the Brumboret at N35°40'46”: E071°38'46” (nima.mil/geonames accessed 16.11.2003) on the stream Bumboret Gol or Brumboret Gol (AMS sheet NI42-04) in Chitral. CAVE DESCRIPTION 1 (WILSON 1976: 103): Bumburet … We found just two caves here, 300 ft [91.44 m] high up in the valley wall. Despite the fact that one had a 200 ft [61 m] sheer drop outside —I could only enter by abseiling down from above and penduluing in— it had been inhabited. The floor had been levelled, the ceiling was smoked, there were signs of there having been some kind of door in place and there were animal bones and walnut shells on the floor. This cave was about 10 ft [3 m] long, 7 ft [2.1 m] wide and 6 ft [1.8 m] high; hardly a mansion even if the roof was tastefully decorated with some fine 2 inch [5.1 cm] long calcite crystals [speleothems]. Above, a second small cave [–>Bumboret 2] had also been subject to some home improvements.CAVE DESCRIPTION 2 (WILSON 1977: 14): Bumburet … We found just two caves, 300 ft [91.44 m] up in the valley wall. Despite the fact that one had a 200 ft [61 m] sheer drop outside —we could only enter by abseiling down from above and penduluming in— it had been inhabited. The floor had been levelled, the ceiling smoked, there were signs of there having been some kind of door in place and there were animal bones and walnut shells on the floor. This cave -Bumburet One- was ten feet [3 m] long seven feet [2.1 m] wide and about 6 ft [1.8 m] high; hardly a mansion even if the roof was tastefully decorated with some fine two inch [5.1 cm] calcite crystals [speleothems]. Above -Bumburet One Cave-, developed in the same fault was -Bumburet Two- which also been subject to some home improvements. CAVE DESCRIPTION 3 (TURNER 1977a: 43): Two caves … 300 feet [91.44 m or so] up the side of the [Bumburet] Valley and one had to be abseiled into. … They were both about 10 ft [3 m] long and 6 ft [1.8 m] high. The floors had been levelled and evidence of human habitation was obvious, despite a 200 ft [61 m] sheer drop outside.CAVE DESCRIPTION 4 (Jane M. Wilson 1979 in DURRANT et al. 1979: 20): Despite the fact that there is a 200 ft [61 m] sheer drop onto 100 ft [30 m] of scree slope, outside the cave, it has been subject to some home improvements. A wooden door had once been in place, the floor had been levelled and the roof which was decorated with some fine 5 cm long calcite crystals [peleothems] was black with soot. A few small bones and walnut shells scattered the floor of this cave which was just 3 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2 m high. Above, a second storey had been built by piling soil and rocks behind a log and in this were three large (3 ft [1 m] high) pots. I clogged out wondering how and why anyone would live in such a small cave with a 300 ft [90 m] drop outside the front door. How's about social insecurity in general and particularly unpleasant neighbours?peleothems] was black with soot. A few small bones and walnut shells scattered the floor of this cave which was just 3 m long, 2.5 m wide and 2 m high. Above, a second storey had been built by piling soil and rocks behind a log and in this were three large (3 ft [1 m] high) pots. I clogged out wondering how and why anyone would live in such a small cave with a 300 ft [90 m] drop outside the front door. How's about social insecurity in general and particularly unpleasant neighbours?