|
|
 |
 |
|
 |
Some of the rocks that the Sudetes are built from are the eldest rocks on our planet and
come from the pre-Cambrian age (c.a. 4.5 billion years ago). Therefore this area belongs to the most interesting ones as for the research
within the development of our planet. The process of creating the Bear Cave is strictly connected with carbonate rocks, which occurred here
as blocks torn to pieces or parts swimming in the non-karst crystal rock mass. |
|
This was a result of depositing debris of animals and plants living in the seas
which occurred on this area (mainly the shells of foraminifera, mussels, cyrtina or the
debris of corals and algae). Some of the shells or debris can be found today as the fossil in the Sudetes. |
 |
|
|
Processes of the reshaping of the deposits were particularly strong about 85
million years ago (the upper Cretaceous). At that time the chalk deposits from the rising Śnieżnik slid down the bottom
of the then sea gathering in the numerous hollows and craters. |
 |
|
Because of the high pressure and temperature resulting from
the pressure of the rocks, the calcareous deposits became crystal limestones i.e. marbles. |
|
These rocks hide many of the surface karst formation (which were created as a result of
the destroying influence of the water), mainly deep craters and cave on different levels. The history of these forms goes back to the
tropical climate, developing at the close of the Cretaceous and the Paleogene (some 50 million years ago. This period is believed to
be the beginning of the Bear Cave. An intensive development of karst forms lasted till the end of the Tertiary and was stopped by the ice age, 1.8 million years ago. |
 |
|
 |
During the ice age some deposits were created in the Cave composed of the debris of the animals.
Today owing to these deposits we know a lot about both the animals and the changes of climate back then.
Most of debris belongs to the
the cave bear -
(Ursus spelaeus), which gave the name to the Cave.
Also the bones of cave lions, hyenas, wolves, martens, bats (many species), boars, beavers,
foxes and many rodents have been found in the Cave. These are the bones of animals which sheltered in the cave
or were killed by others animals, or were brought by water. |
|
|
Discovery of the Bear Cave |
 |
|
October 1966 - first entry to the Cave has been discovered in Kletno III quarry. This crack in the rocks led to
a small chamber later called the Bear Hall. There was a vast muddy area with many bones of big mammals.
Mostly they were cave bear’s bones. The back part of the hall can be admired today and is visible through the entrance to the Cave. |
| |
|
Excavation in the Entrance Hall |
By the end of 1966. the corridors of the mid level of the
Cave up to the Lion Hall had been explored. During the following years intense scientific
research had been conducted there. However, no more convincing signs of the Palaeolithic
human being were found in the Cave (apart from two bear’s fangs visibly processed by a human). |
|
|
|
On 3rd December 1967, after the excavation had been finished
in the ceiling of this hall the Palace Halls, the Corridor of the Primitive Human with the adhering corridors
were discovered (this corridor has been named the Corridor of the Primitive Human due to the conditions there
which allowed for a human to seek shelter there). The Cave was then already 350 meters long. |
| |
|
|
 |
 |
|
Corridor of the Primitive Human |
Scientific works
in the muddy corridors |
|
|
|
Between 1968-69 further explorations were conducted.
So called “Old Wrocław Parts” was discovered then. It was located behind the Block Hall.
Another discovery was the parts with the Water Corridor strongly damaged by
tectonic movements. In December 1971 the length of the Cave was more than 800 meters.
On 26-29 January 1972 six members of the exploration team discovered a great system of corridors
and halls called the New Lowest of the Cave of a total length of over 1 km. The team members were:
J. Bieroński, Z. Dumański,
K. Łukaszewicz, J. Panek, M. Paulina i J. Sądej.
The works that followed concentrated on the exploration of the Maurycy’s Chimney in the Champagne Hall and on the digging in the Muddy Corridors
located right behind the great crack in the lowest parts of the Cave. As a result of these works the length of the Cave was over 2.5 km.
At the beginning of the 70s the Scientific Care Committee for the Bear Cave was found under the National Council of Environment
Protection in Warsaw. The Committee becomes an initiator of the exploration works in the Cave and supervises the protection of the Cave.
In 1977 the Bear Cave together with the surroundings was recognised as a legally protected nature reserve.
On 11th June 1983, after 8 years of preparation works (mine and construction works in the Cave,
electricity supply, entrance hall construction, modernisation of the access roads and the parking space)
the Bear Cave was officially opened for tourists. |
|
 |
|
|
|
|
