Locality description
Southeast from village Plavecky Mikulas, the national natural reservation Kršlenica is located – a showcase of surface and below=surface karst forms in the group of Sološnícko-Trstín Karst formation, in the valley between flat Javorinky and Kršlenice. The original continuous flat surface on mesozoic era limestones and dolomites was scarred by tectonic and fluviokarstic processes. A canyon-like valley (Mokrá dolina) was created. Inarticulate karst tell-signs are springs and under surface wells. On the hills of Kršlenica on limestones and dolomites rocky formations of various shapes stick out. On the surface breaks are visible scrapes. On the flat surfaceof Javorinka and Kršlenica and krast holes. In the end of Mokrá dolina are caves Deravá skala and Tmavá skala, which I want to show you.
Access
Deravá skala and Tmavá skala are two, almost opposing opposing, caves. Both are in Mokrá dolina, through which leads and educational trail. Access to the caves is very easy. Exactly in Plavecký Mikuláš you will find a green tourist trail, part of which, on the upper end, is the educational trail that continues up the Mokrá dolina.
Cave Tmavá skala
(layer-flow cave)
Entry to this cave is prohibited!
Crevice cave Tmavá skala is located on the upper end of canyon-like Mokrá dolina in Malé Karpaty under the hill Polámané. Entry to the cave is approximately 40 metres above the river on the opposite site of cave Deravá skala. The cave gate is under approximately 10 metre high rock side. It is a 45 metres long inactive fluvio-krastic cave. Tha hallway of N-S direction is horizontal and without stalactitic decoration. Cavemen assume this hallway continues further. Max width of the hallway is 8 metres, height 1,5 – 2 metres, towards the end of the cave up to 4 metres.
It’s importance is mostly geological, geomorphological and paleontological. The creation of the cave premises suggests coherence with a river flowing through the Mokrá dolina. Sedimentation of the cave’s dirt bed happened most probably at the end of Pleistocene era. On the rock wall, under which is the entrance to the cave are visible connections between lime and quartz sandstones. In the cave were found many fossils of vertebrates. Also, in the cave were found fossil remains of Pleistocene fauna including core fauna material of Holocene. There were also found traces of human presence (shards from neolith up to middle ages). Dominant part of pleistocenic fauna was the Cave Bear – Ursus ex. gr. spelaeus Rosenm. The cave sediments are rich in its teeth and bones, but are often damaged. Assumption is, that the remains in the sediments could be from tens of individual members of many generations of the sort. Other fauna representatives found here were hyenas, cave lions, frogs, reptiles, small rodents (races of Microtus, Sorex, Clethrionomys, Cricetus, ..), bats (races of Myotis, Rhinolophus and other), badger (Mustela putorius (Linne)), marten (Martes martes (Linne)), and other martenoids, foxes (Vulpes vulpes (Linne), Vulpes sp.), horse (Equus sp.), species of Bovidae (Ovis or Capra) and species of deer. As the fauna is in the sediments mixed randomly, the age can only be determined approximately to last glacial or holocene.
Cave Deravá skala
(layer-collapse cave)
Freely accessible for public.
Cave Deravá skala is situated on the right side of Mokrá dolina, on the hillside of limestone reef under flat Javorinka. About 10 meters above the river is entrance to the cave which is shaped as a massive overhang. The cave gate, thanks to huge size (height of 13 meters and length of 26 meters) reminds of a train tunnel. It has been created in mid-triassic limestones by freeze erosion. The cave is a 26 meters long and 15 meters wide portal hall with very little natural decorations. The cave space is created on a tectonical crevise by sub-terrain water erosion and enlarged by percolating waters rich in carbon di-oxides and freeze erosion.
Besides geomorphological importance, this cave also has archaeological values. It is a locality that was inhabited by humans as soon as Paleolite. There have been found traces of homo spaiens presence in the cave from ages 30 000 to 40 000 years BC. The cave was inhabited also in neolitic and middle age era. During the Ugrian era was the place explored by J. Hillebrandt and in year 1950 by František Prošek. His exploration confirmed thet the cave Dzeravá skala (as is called by the locals) was a place of living for hunters fom early Paleolithic era.
The oldest archaeological founds are from paleolithic era: apices from mammoth teeth, jaspis and flint knives, clamped aspices, scrapers and bone aspices of mladeč type. To neolithical founds belong also fragments of ceramics, bone sawing tools, knives, processed stone axes and also a grave with an infant skeleton in fetal position. The cave is also an important paleontological locality.