The Tibetan Peace Garden
The Tibetan Peace Garden, also known as Samten Kyil or the Garden of Contemplation, is a serene space located next to the Imperial War Museum in London. It was inaugurated by His Holiness the Dalai Lama in 1999 and serves as a symbol of peace, harmony, and understanding between cultures.
The garden features a bronze Kalachakra Mandala at its center, which is associated with world peace. Surrounding the Mandala are eight meditation seats representing the noble eightfold path of Buddhism. There's also a Language Pillar near the entrance, inscribed with messages from the Dalai Lama in Tibetan, English, Chinese, and Hindi.
Black Kilkenny Limestone
In the centre of this monument, you will find the Kalachakra Mandala set in Black Kilkenny Limestone. The same stone is used in four larger contemplation seats on the outer ring.
Black Kilkenny Limestone, also known as Kilkenny Black Marble, is a fine-grained, very dark grey limestone found in County Kilkenny, Ireland. It belongs to the Butlersgrove Formation, which dates back to the Lower Carboniferous period. This limestone contains fossils of brachiopods, gastropods, crinoids, and corals, indicating its marine origins. 1
The formation of this limestone occurred when a shallow tropical sea covered the region during the Carboniferous period—roughly 340 million years ago. Over time, marine organisms accumulated on the ocean floor, their skeletal remains contributing to the limestone's composition and dramatic hue. Geological processes, including compaction and cementation, transformed these deposits into solid rock.2 The limestone was later quarried extensively, particularly at Archersgrove Quarry, where its unique properties made it ideal for dimension stone quarrying.3
Black Kilkenny Limestone is celebrated for its rich fossil content, which provides a window into ancient marine ecosystems that thrived during the Lower Carboniferous period;
CORALS - The fossil corals found in Black Kilkenny Limestone vividly recount the history of ancient reef ecosystems. These corals, which can be either solitary or colonial (corals that grew in interconnected groups), constructed intricate skeletal frameworks that contributed to the limestone's formation. In the Carboniferous seas, reefs built by such corals were now-extinct but once flourished in clear, shallow tropical waters. The variety of coral morphologies—ranging from branching to encrusting forms—suggests a diverse array of ecological niches and interactions. Their fossilized remains not only provide evidence of the complex reef structures but also offer insights into ancient environmental conditions such as water temperature, clarity, and even nutrient availability.1,4
BRACHIOPODS - Brachiopods are among the most abundant fossils in this limestone. Although they might resemble bivalve mollusks at first glance, brachiopods have a fundamentally different anatomy, with distinct dorsal and ventral shells. Their robust, often curved shells indicate that they lived in shallow, warm, and relatively stable marine environments. The presence of well-preserved brachiopod fossils helps geologists understand sedimentary conditions and serves as a useful tool for correlating stratigraphic layers across different regions. Their diversity and abundance in the Black Kilkenny Limestone underscore a marine setting rich in oxygen and nutrients, essential for sustaining such organisms.1,4
CRINOIDS - Charmingly called "sea lilies" due to their delicate, plant-like appearance, crinoids, the marine echinoderms known for their feather-like arms and distinctive stalks, also form a key component of the fossil assemblage in this limestone. Often preserved as isolated ossicles or sometimes as partially articulated stems, crinoids indicate environments rich in plankton and suspended particles—ideal for their filter-feeding lifestyle. In many cases, the accumulation of crinoid remains has even led to the development of what is known as crinoidal limestone, characterized by a textured, segmented fabric derived from these skeletal fragments. Their fossils provide a dynamic picture of the ancient food webs, underscoring the interconnectedness of marine organisms in these warm, shallow seas.1,4
Collectively, the fossils housed within Black Kilkenny Limestone paint a detailed portrait of a vibrant, shallow marine ecosystem that existed over 300 million years ago. The abundance of brachiopods, diverse coral forms, and intricate crinoid assemblages suggests that this environment was not only warm and well-lit but also brimming with life. Such exceptional fossil preservation allows geologists and paleontologists to reconstruct ancient biodiversity and environmental conditions with remarkable precision. These fossils not only illustrate the complex interplay between biology and geology but also explain why Black Kilkenny Limestone has been used as a premier material for this sculpture.
Also found here: York Stone
Inside the perimeter of the garden are eight low York Stone contemplation seats, facing towards the mandala. They represent the "Noble Eightfold Path"of right view, thought, speech, livelihood, effort, mindfulness and concentration.
York Stone often contains plant fossils, particularly calamites, which are fossilized stems of ancient trees. These fossils are commonly found in sedimentary layers of York Stone quarries, especially near the top where the stone has a more limestone-like composition. Most fossils in York Stone consist of tree remnants or foliage, reflecting its formation in ancient riverbeds and floodplains.
Also found here: Portland stone
On the outer perimeter of the circle stand four contemporary sculptures carved in Portland stone portraying the elements: Air the gateway to the west; Fire in the north; Earth in the east and Water in the south. The fifth element, Space, is represented by the open arena. The five elements are held in Buddhism to constitute the basis of our whole existence: environment, mindfulness and concentration.
Portland stone, a Jurassic-age limestone quarried on the Isle of Portland, England, is famous for its fossil content. It often contains large ammonites, particularly Titanites anguiformis, which can grow up to a meter across. Other fossils found in Portland Stone include bivalves, gastropods, and occasional marine reptile remains. This limestone was formed in shallow, warm seas, making it rich in ooliths—tiny spherical grains of calcium carbonate. Many buildings in London showcase Portland Stone with visible fossil imprints.
How to claim this EarthCache?
Send me the following;
1. The text "GCB74RB Tibetan Peace Garden" on the first line.
2. The answers to the following questions;
The focus of this EarthCache is on the Black Kilkenny limestone.
- Which types of fossils can you find in the Black Kilkenny Limestone used here?
- How are colonial corals distinct from solitary corals, which one is found here?
- What does the presence of these fossils tell us about the ancient environment?
3. Take a selfie (optional) and/or a photo of a thumbs-up, peace-symbol (V) or personal item, clearly showing the mandala in the background, and attach it to your log.*
References
* Effective immediately from 10 June 2019, photo requirements are permitted on EarthCaches. This task is not optional, it is an addition to existing logging tasks! Logs that do not meet all requirements posed will no longer be accepted.
For additional information, visit; Geosociety.org, Geocaching.com Help Center and Geocaching.com Forum.
1 Wikipedia, Kilkenny Marble (retrieved 05/2025). 2 Geoschol.com, Kilkenny Geology (retrieved 05/2025). 3 Geodata.gov.ie, Archersgrove Quarry (retrieved 05/2025). 4 Dalesrocks.org.uk, Sign of life (retrieved 05/2025).