Tham Mae Pla Ao [Mai Pas Ao Resurgence Cave} [Tham Ban Oui Haen] [Mai Pla Sao] [CM0019]

แม่นะ (TH)
19.410006,98.816382
Longueur 1762m Profondeur 37m
Grottocenter / carte

Location

This resurgence cave is downstream of the Lisu village of Ban Fa Suai (Ban Liso Ban Mai on the 1:50,000 map and known to Deharveng as Ban Oui Haen!) on the northern, right hand, bank of the Huai Mae Pla Ao. The cave is known to the locals and the entrance is in a cliff. Martin Ellis - 25/06/2019

Description

Fauna

Martin Ellis - 25/06/2019

Troglopedetes centralis Deharveng et Gers, 1993 (Arthropoda, Entognatha, Entomobryomorpha, Entomobryoidea, Paronellidae) û type locality (Deharveng and Gers 1993) Rhinolophus malayanus Bonhote, 1903 (Chordata, Mammalia, Chiroptera, Rhinolophidae) (McFarlane and Blood 1986)

Martin Ellis - 25/06/2019

Tham Mae Pla Ao has five entrances: a resurgence entrance, the main, dry entrance in a cliff 10 m above the resurgence, a shaft entrance and the upper cave which has two entrances. The three entrances are close together and enter the cave close to the junction between the active and fossil series. The stream cave trends westward (towards stream sinks in the dolines south-west of Ban Na Lao Mai) and has been surveyed for just over 300 m to a sump (in January 1984). Back at the entrance a spacious and well decorated fossil passage can be followed south-east for 200 m to a stal blockage. In 1985 the French found the body of a Lisu villager here. About 30 m before the end of the passage the way on is in the right (southern wall). This is probably obscure as it was missed by the French in 1985 and 2001-2005. The fossil South Passage was surveyed for about 600 m by the Americas in 1984 and their survey doesn't show this passage terminating. The 2001-2005 French archaeological expeditions found a further 250 m of large fossil passage opposite where the South Passage begins showm as Middle Cave of the survey. This is which is where the pitches from the upper cave land. The upper cave entrance is seasonally used by a monk as a settlement. This entrance is 5 m wide and 2 to 5 m high and 30 m long with clay surface deposits, passing another entrance on the left. A slope exists at the northern part at the end of the corridor, whose soil is made of clay, pebble and sand. From the entrance, at the crossing of two rifts, a short slope allows one to pursue the exploration in the fossil network. After 40 m of crawling you reach a low room with a T junction. Left leads to the chamber with the main palaeontological deposits are while right leads to the tight and vertical pitches down to the Middle Cave.

Hydrology

Martin Ellis - 25/06/2019

On the walls oxide coatings indicate alternation of wet and dry phases.

Topographie

Martin Ellis - 25/06/2019

DEHARVENG, LOUIS ET AL. (1986) - Grade UISv2 3-3-A (613m) Lower and Active Cave THAILAND KARST HYDOLOGIC SURVEY (1985) (1167m) Lower and Active Cave Grade UISv2 3-3-A LENOBLE, ARNAUD; ZEITOUN, VAL+RY; LAUDET; FR+D+RIC; SEVEAU, ARNOULT; ASA, TASANA DOY (2008) Upper Cave Grade UISv2 3-3-A ZEITOUN, VAL+RY; FORESTIER, HUBERT; NAKBUNLANG, SUPAPORN (2008) Upper and Lower Cave Grade UISv2 3-3-A

Documents

Bibliography 25/06/2019
[Topo] Tham Mae Pla Sao 05/05/2019

Histoire

The cave was explored and surveyed by the Americans of the Thailand Karst Hydrologic Survey in January 1984. In July 1985 the APS expedition also surveyed the cave, but missed the way on in the southern fossil passage and were stopped by a duck before they reached the upstream sump. Between 2001 and 2005 the Franco-Thai archaeological survey excavated in the upper cave. They surveyed the upper cave and middle cave, including a large 300 m long passage missed by the 1984 and 1985 expeditions. Alternative names (continued): Grotte du Moine; Cave of the Monk; Ban Fa Suai I Martin Ellis - 25/06/2019

Cavités proche

Distance (km)NomLongueur (m)Profondeur (m)
0.4Ban Fa Suai Rockshelter - CM0238150
0.7Cave CM0183 - CM0183
0.9Cave CM0182 - CM0182
2.1Tham Bae Bet [Perte de Ban Na Lao] [CM0008]407
2.7Nam Mae Khong (Tham) [CM0253]41118
2.7Tham Phra Nam Mae Khong [CM0276]52438
2.9Cave CM0275
2.9Cave CHD05 - CM0009158
4.2Cave PL24 - CM0224