ISWAL 2 (Grotte d')

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 29/03/2016

A cave developed parallel to the valley's flank is situated near coordinates »778,350 / 2708,000« (DUBOIS 1996: 11) and about 500 m south of Iswal 3 and Iswal 4, and 50 m from Iswal Pot. CAVE DESCRIPTION (after DUBOIS 1996: 10): In the northern part, 40 m from the cave entrance, the ceiling has collapsed. The northern gallery (4 m wide, 2 m high) contains chimneys or cupolas in the ceiling which are partially sealed with ochre and black infillings, while laterally a complementary black deposit (limonite, goethite and sidérose with organic material) penetrates the limestone. The northern gallery ends in a mud plug arriving from the surface. At the side of the collapsed section, a chamber is filled with large boulders. In the back of the chamber, earth is washed into three unchecked leads without air-currant. In the southern gallery, at the border of the collapsed section, an aven is filled with dolomitic breccia cemented by brown to ochre coloured sand (limonite). About 15 m in the southern gallery (3 m wide, 1.5 m high) a chamber is reached were more than 200 flying foxes dwell. The lowest part of the chamber is occupied by a pool. A side passage ends in a sump. A large slope, partitioned by rock pillars ascends to the cave entrance (1.5 m wide, 15 m high). At a distance of 50 m from the cave entrance lies the –>Iswal pothole. CULTURAL HISTORY - human use: guano exploitation: Bat guano, which consists of small dry droppings (2 mm diameter), is regularly exploited by the peasants.CAVE LIFE: Some time in 1995 or so about 200 flying foxes (Chiroptera: Megachiroptera). The myth of bats which »ne font que vous frôler n'est plus vrai dans le cas d'une débandade. Elles se rentrent l'une dans l'autre et deux se crashèrent sur mon nez. Le vent et le vancarme sont assourdissants (un petit bombardier au deécollage)« is without danger but impressive.