Dunmore Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dunmore Cave |
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| Dearc Fearna | |
Cave entrance
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| Location | Castlecomer Road, County Kilkenny |
| Depth | 150 feet (46 m) |
| Length | 310 m (1,030 ft) |
| Geology | Carboniferous Limestone |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Access | Show cave access only |
Dunmore Cave is a famous cave in County Kilkenny, Ireland. Its name, "Dún Mór," means "great fort" in Irish. This amazing cave is made from limestone, a type of rock that dissolves over time. It's a "solutional cave," meaning water slowly carved out its passages.
The cave is open for visitors and is known as a "show cave." It's special because of the many old things found inside. It's also famous for a historical event involving Vikings that happened there in the year 928.
Contents
Exploring Dunmore Cave: A Show Cave
Dunmore Cave is located near the N78 road, about 11 kilometers (7 miles) north of Kilkenny City. You can find it in a small area of limestone rock on the Castlecomer Plateau. There's a special visitor center at the entrance to help you explore.
Even though Dunmore is not the biggest cave in Ireland, it's still very impressive. It has about a quarter-mile of passages. At its deepest point, the cave goes down about 46 meters (150 feet).
Amazing Rock Formations
Inside the cave, you'll see beautiful rock formations. These are called speleothems. They form when water drips and leaves behind minerals like calcite. The most amazing formation is called the "Market Cross." It's a huge column shaped like a cross and stands over 5.8 meters (19 feet) tall!
Discoveries in the Cave: Archaeology
People have been interested in Dunmore Cave for a very long time. The first written reports about the cave's history came from a bishop named George Berkeley in 1706. He wrote about visiting the cave when he was a boy.
Finding Ancient Treasures
In 1869, a doctor named Arthur Wynne Foot explored the cave with other researchers. They found many human remains, which are bones from people who lived long ago. Dr. Foot carefully wrote down everything they found.
Later, in 1999, something very exciting was discovered deep inside the cave. Archaeologists found a hidden collection of 43 silver and bronze items. This treasure included silver pieces, metal bars called ingots, and fancy buttons made from thin silver. Experts believe this collection is from around 970 AD.
See Also
- Limestone
- Viking
- Show cave
- In Spanish: Cueva de Dunmore para niños
