[EN]
The cache is outside the cave.
Do not enter the cave alone and unprepared and unannounced. It is a true labyrinth and many people got lost in it. The old man in Limanu village who knew most of the cave and used to go in to rescue those lost has died several years ago.
Even though it is mostly ignored by the authorities and despised by the locals, Limanu cave is still the subject of controversy among historians. Is today's Limanu cave the same as the famous Keiris cave?
Historian Vasile Parvan identified the Keiris cave somewhere in the Mouth of Dobrogea (Gura Dobrogei) area but recent studies indicate Limanu cave to be the most likely subterranian labyrinth used by dacians to hide from roman proconsul Marcus Licinius Crassus.
Evidence about these events and the Keiris cave comes from the historian Cassius Dio in “Istoria romana”. The cave was so vast that even the titans might have taken refuge there, hiding before the gods.
The roman proconsul Marcus Licinius Crassus leads an expedition to help Roles in hist conflict with king Dapyx in the years 29 – 28 B.C.E. Once the fortress was conquered, most of it's inhabitants took refuge with their valued belongins the Keiris cave, vast labyrinth with many entrances. Crassus however found them all and blocked them. Fearing death by starvation, the locals surrendered. Following this conquest, Crassus continued his campaign against other getae kingdoms in the area, ragardless of their relations with the Roman Empire.
The ancient historian never mentions where the cave was. Recent studies indicate the ancient Keiris cave might be Limanu (a.k.a. Caracicala or La Icoane) cave. The "La Icoane" (Icon) has no christian meaning, it was inspired by faces engraved in the walls near the entrance to the cave, probably as a sign of recognition. Most of these faces were destroyed in recent years.
The cave is in the south of Constanta county and was first studied by C.M. Ionescu in 1916. Later, another team led by Margareta Dumitrescu and Traian Orghidan mapped the cave into 3 sectors.
Dr. Vasile Boroneant found many elements that make this cave unique. Long and winding corridors that seem to adhere to a well laid out plan, alcoves for rush lights, various signs, probably orientation markers, 2 altar chambers with smoked ceiling which definitely served their purpose, bones stuck into the walls or various ceramic items from different periods, gettic, roman, greek. All these traces support the story of Dio Cassiuss.
Some galleries had drawings on the walls and ceilings with roman and kirilic symbols. Vasile Boroneant identified these drawings across many generations between the 1st century B.C.E until the 11th century A.D. They represent thracian scenes from the iron age, then the dacian period and the byzantine period.
The cave was open to the occasional visitor and some people vandalized most of the drawings by scartching them or drawing over the more then 2000 years old images. All this while the authorities remained indifferent. At some point a concrete dorway was built, but the iron door did not last long. Historians say there may be many more artifacts yet to be discovered, but research is not feasible due to improper conditions and resources.
Soon the cave became known to the locals and more. Folk tales speak about many brave (and stupid) adventurers that wanted to explore the cave. And quite many entered the cave and ... were never heard from again. Others returned with stories about what may be down there. Most stories refer to the sheer size of the cave. Some say there are corridors that extend beyond the Romanian border, into Bulgaria, such as the tale of a villager who ventured into the cave, found a bulgarian's cellar, drank his wine, then came back... Another villager was digging a well when suddenly bats started coming out of the ground. The well allegedly still exists, but is blocked.
Some corridors may go under the village church, according to the story of some children, they got lost in the cave when they heard the church bell and thus realising where they were.
This cave is very valuable from archeological, biological, anthropological and historical point of view for all humanity. It has attracted scientists from all over the world. Still, the question remains: what shall we do to protect and preserve these unexpected gifts?
Source: descopera.ro http://www.descopera.ro/descopera-in-romania/2338419-comorile-subterane-ale-dobrogei
[RO]
Cutia se gaseste in apropierea intrarii in pestera.
Nu intrati in pestera singuri, neanuntati, nepregatiti. Este un adevarat labirint unde multi s-au pierdut. Batranul din satul Limanu care cunostea bine pestera si adesea a scos pe rataciti, nu mai traieste.
Neglijata de catre autoritati, desconsiderata de catre localnici, pestera Limanu a fost si este inca subiectul unei controverse istorice: este sau nu celebra pestera Keiris, pestera Limanu de astazi?
Reputatul istoric Vasile Parvan a identificat pestera Keiris ca fiind localizata in zona Gura Dobrogei, insa noile studii indica mai degraba pestera Limanu ca fiind labirintul subteran pe care dacii l-au folosit pentru a se ascunde de proconsulul roman Marcus Licinius Crassus.
Marturia despre acest eveniment istoric deosebit de important ne-a ramas de la istoricul Cassius Dio, care relateaza in “Istoria romana” intregul episod legat de pestera Keiris, despre care se spunea inca de pe atunci ca era atat de intinsa, incat pana si titanii se refugiasera acolo dupa infrangerea suferita in fata zeilor.
In anii 29 – 28 i.e.n, proconsulul roman intreprinde o expeditie razboinica pentru a veni in ajutorul lui Roles, care se afla in conflict cu regele Dapyx. Fortareata fiind cucerita, locuitorii acesteia s-au refugiat, luandu-si cu ei si avutul, in pestera Keiris, un labirint vast care avea mai multe intrari. Crassus, insa, le-a gasit pe toate si le-a zidit. Perspectiva infometarii i-a facut pe localnici sa se predea. Dupa aceasta cucerire, Crassus a continuat sa atace si alte regate gete, indiferent de politica pe care acestea o aveau fata de Imperiul Roman.
Istoricul antic nu a facut nici un fel de mentiune asupra locului un de ar putea fi amplasata aceasta pestera. Ultimele studii si cercetari indica pestera Keiris ca find actuala pestera Limanu, Caracicala sau La Icoane, dupa celelalte denumiri ale sale. Denumirea “La Icoane” nu isi are valente crestine, se pare ca a fost inspirata de chipurile cioplite aflate la intrarea in pestera, probabil un semn de recunoastere, distruse partial in prezent.
Situata in Comuna Limanu, judetul Constanta, pestera a fost studiata pentru prima data de catre speologul C.M. Ionescu, in 1916. Mai tarziu, o echipa condusa de Margareta Dumitrescu si Traian Orghidan, a cercetat pestera, impartind-o in 3 sectoare.
Dr. Vasile Boroneant a gasit, la atenta cercetare a pesterii, elemente care au marcat caracterul de unicitate al acestei pesteri in tara noastra. Coridoare lungi si intortocheate facute dupa un plan bine gandit, firide pentru opaitele care serveau la iluminat, semne care marcheaza colidoarele, probabil puncte de orientare, doua camere cu altar al caror tavan este afumat, ceea ce ne indica ca isi serveau scopul, oase incastrate in peretii pesterii sau obiecte de ceramica din diverse perioade, de la cea geto-dacica, romana, pana la cea greceasca, toate aceste urme ale unor civilizatii trecute vin in sprijinul relatarii istoricului antic Dio Cassus.
Unele galerii au peretii si tavanele acoperite cu desene, simboluri sau caractere romane si chirilice. Istoricul Vasile Boroneant identifica aceste desene ca apartinand mai multor generatii, pornind din secolul I i.e.n. pana spre sec XI e.n., evocand scene sau porturi ale artei tracice din epoca fierului, arta traco-dacica sau perioada romano-bizantina.
Pestera a fost mult timp deschisa vizitatorilor ocazionali sau curiosilor, care au reusit performanta de a o vandaliza, mazgalind peretii acesteia si acoperind o mare parte din desenele si inscriptiile conservate acolo de mai bine de 2000 de ani. Toate acestea, sub privirile indiferente ale autoritatilor, care au gasit abia de curand de cuviinta sa restrictioneze accesul in pestera.
Istoricii care au cercetat pestera spun ca acolo sunt inca multe ramasite care asteapta sa fie cercetate, dar conditiile sunt improprii unor cercetari adecvate.
Nu a durat mult pana la intrarea pesterii in circuitul folcloric local. Sunt cunoscute mai multe episoade care povestesc despre suprafata vasta a acesteia, motiv de curiozitate si ocazie de aventura pentru localnicii temerari. Si se pare ca nu putini sunt cei care s-au aventurat pe coridoarele intunecate, multi dintre el ramanand acolo pentru totdeauna, altii intorcandu-se pentru a povesti despre ceea ce este dincolo. Majoritatea istoriilor se refera la intinderea acestei pesteri. Se pare ca unele coridoare duc dincolo de granita Romaniei, pana in Bulgaria. Exista un episod cu un satean care s-a aventurat in cercetarea pesterii pana a ajuns in pivnita unui taran bulgar, i-a baut vinul si apoi s-a intors acasa. O alta istorie este a unui localnic care a dorit sa isi sape o fantana in curte si s-a oprit in momentul in care din pamant au inceput sa iasa lilieci, semn ca deranjase un cuib subteran. Fantana mai exista si astazi si este inchisa, nefiind functionabila.
Se pare ca alte coridoare ale pesterii duc pana sub biserica satului, fapt atestat de patania unor copii rataciti in subteran, care au auzit la un moment dat clopotele bisericii, dandu-si seama astfel unde se afla.
Aceste pesteri, valoroase din punct de vedere arheologic, biologic, antropologic sau istoric pentru intreaga omenire, au atras atentia cercetatorilor de profil din afara Romaniei. Intrebarea ramane: ce facem noi pentru a pastra si proteja aceste daruri neasteptate venite din negura istoriei noastre?
Sursa : descopera.ro http://www.descopera.ro/descopera-in-romania/2338419-comorile-subterane-ale-dobrogei
Despre pestera Limanu :
Pestera Limanu (speologie.org) : http://www.speologie.org/pestera-limanu
Wikipedia: http://ro.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pe%C8%99tera_Limanu
Labirint prin istorie : National Geographic Romania : http://www.natgeo.ro/natura/habitat-conservare/9855-petera-limanu-labirint-prin-istorie
Speologie : Pestera Limanu : http://alpinet.org/main/articole/show_ro_t_pestera-limanu_id_3704.html
TuristInfo : http://www.turistinfo.ro/vama_veche/obiectiv-turistic-pestera_limanu-i2096.html
Gauri negre ale istoriei - Pestera de la Limanu : http://www.formula-as.ro/2007/793/societate-37/gauri-negre-ale-istoriei-pestera-de-la-limanu-8631
Pestera Limanu (Speologie) + harta : http://www.speologie.org/pestera-limanu
Misterioasa pestera-labirint Limanu : http://amfostacolo.ro/romania-pareri,15/alte-locuri,90,1144/hoinar-prin-dobrogea,4623/impresii-sejur-si-fotografii-vacanta__6821.htm