MARDZONG (Troglodyte settlement of)

Herbert Daniel Gebauer - 06/01/2018

At least 30 to 50 entrances to man-made rock-cut chambers were observed in a V-shaped cliff facing west and south-east. At the west face, four large cave at the bottom of the hillock are walled in by shepherds. An awkward climb leads to a gallery of caves above. At the south-east face, a climb gives access to a cave with a window, a couple of rounded niches, a square painted niche, two pits and a broken stove. By far the major part of the system requires technical climbing installations. SIMONS, Angela et al (1994a: 2): … situated on the northern bank of the Lo Manthang river east of Lo … Marjhong (= 'lower fortress like nest cave') [is found]. Post holes of former galleries and traces of interior passages could be detected even from outside [the opposite river bank]. There are also house ruins, former field systems and a tower connected with the caves.