Inchnadamph
'Innis nan Damh'
Bone Caves
Uamhan nan Cnàmhan
| These four north facing Bone Caves of the Inchnadamph look out from the base of the limestone Creag nan Uamh over the Allt nan Uamh glen. At the head of the glen, the ancient calving grounds of the reindeer are seen on the slopes of Breabag. Reindeer Cave and Bone Cave are connected by a narrow passage which children can crawl through. The caves give us a unique glimpse back in time revealing what animals lived here during the last 45,000 years. From arctic polar bears and northern lynx, to the hyenas and hippos of warmer climes, many different animals have left their mark on the Bone Caves of Creag nan Uamh. Join us on a journey to explore their fascinating history. |
Tha na ceithir uamhan chnàmhan ann an Innis nan Damh a' coimhead gu tuath bho bhonn Creag nan Uamh a-null thar gleann Allt nan Cnàmh. Tha Creag nan Uamh air a dèanamh de chloich-aoil. Aig ceann a' ghlinne chithear seann àitichean breith nan rèin-fhiadh air leòidean Bhreabaig. Tha trannsa cumhang a' ceangal Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh agus Uamh nan Cnàmhan agus gheibh clann air a dhol troimhe air am màgaran. Tha na h-uamhan a' toirt dhuinn sealladh gun shamhail air na beathaichean
a bha an seo thar nan 45,000 bliadhna mu dheireadh. Eadar am mathan
bàn agus lioncs a' chinn a tuath, haidhena agus each-aibhne,
tha iomadh beathach eadar-dhealaichte air làrach fhàgail
ann an Uamhan nan Cnàmhan. Thig còmhla rinn air turas
inntinneach gus beagan fhaighinn a-mach mun eachdraidh aca. |
In the footsteps of historyWhen you follow the steep and winding path to the bone caves, you are treading in the footsteps of some of our best known explorers. It is said of Ben Peach that, when working in the Northwest, he would work long hours, but would take every third day off and go fishing. He may not have had much luck, because there are no lochs up the glen of Allt nan Uamh, and not much in the way of rivers either, but world-famous geologists Peach and Horne found something just as rewarding. While surveying the geology of the area, they must have come across the Creag nan Uamh bone caves and in 1889 they partially excavated the mouth of one of them and found pieces of animal bones.
|
Ceumannan ann an eachdraidhNuair a ghabhas tu an ceum cas, lùbach gu uamhan nan cnàmhan, tha thu a' gabhail ceum còmhla ris an luchd-rannsachaidh as fheàrr a tha againn. A rèir aithris, nuair a bha Ben Peach ag obair san Iar Thuath,
bhiodh e ag obair anmoch ach bhiodh e a' gabhail latha dheth às
gach trì airson a dhol a dh'iasgach. 'S dòcha nach deach
leis ro mhath oir chan eil lochan idir ann an gleann Allt nan Uamh;
cha mhòr gu bheil abhainn Nuair a bha iad a' sgrùdadh geòlas na sgìre, feumaidh gun tàinig iad thairis air uamhan nan cnàmhan aig Creag nan Uamh agus, ann an 1889, rinn iad na h-uiread de chladhach aig beul tè aca agus lorg iad pìosan de chnàmhan bheathaichean |
Bear bonesDuring a visit in 1925, another well-known geologist, J E Cree, found the incisor tooth of a bear and two pieces of reindeer antler in one of the other caves. He returned the next year with his colleagues Callandar and Ritchie to excavate the caves we now know as Badger Cave and Reindeer Cave. This excavation was more thorough than Peach and Horne's 1889 dig. They found pieces of frog, land snails and the lower jaw of a wildcat. Later tests with smoke proved that Bear Cave was connected to Reindeer cave, but there is no passageway to link the caves today. |
Cnàmhan mathainLorg J.E. Cree, geòlaiche ainmeil eile, clàr-fhiacaill mathain agus dà phìos de chròic rèin-fhiadh ann an tè de na h-uamhan eile ann an 1925. Thill e còmhla ri Callander is Ritchie, a bha ag obair còmhla ris, a' bhliadhna an dèidh sin, agus chladhaich iad na h-uamhan ris an canar an-diugh Uamh nam Broc agus Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh. Bha a' chladhach seo nas mionaidiche na a' chladhach a rinn Peach agus Horne ann an 1889. Lorg iad pìosan de losgainn is de sheilcheagan tìre agus cuideachd giall ìseal cat fiadhaich. An dèidh sin, dhearbh deuchainn le toit gun robh Uamh a' Mhathain ceangailte ri Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh ach chan eil trannsa a' ceangal nan uamhan a-nis. |
Ancestral burialsThe most exciting finds were found in Reindeer cave, including the first human remains. A human skull, with both upper and lower jaws missing was found in a small stone enclosure, which suggests a burial. A second burial was found in the narrow crack at the back of the cave. These bones were found in a confused heap, lightly covered with cave earth. Bones of four people have been radiocarbon dated to between 4515 and 4720 years old. An object made from red deer antler has been dated as 850 years old. Nearly 1000 fragments of reindeer antler have been found and these have been aged at 47,000, 25,000, 23,000 and 8,300 years old. The antlers were from female and young male reindeer, which suggest that the slopes at the head of the glen might have been their calving grounds. |
AdhlacaidheanChaidh na rudan a b'inntinniche a lorg ann an Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh agus nam measg bha cuid de na bha air fhàgail de dhaoine. Chaidh claigeann duine, às aonais nan giallan, a lorg air làrach le balla cloiche timcheall air. Bidh e coltach gun robh e air a thìodhlacadh an seo. Chaidh tìodhlacadh eile a lorg ann an sgoltadh cumhang aig cùl na h-uamha. Bha na cnàmhan seo ann an dùn le glè bheag de dh'ùir na h-uamha air an uachdar. Chuir deiteadh reidiocarbon cnàmhan ceathrar dhaoine eadar 4,515 agus 4,720 air ais. Bha rudeigin ann air a dhèanamh à cròic fèidh a bha 850 bliadhna a dh'aois. Chaidh faisg air 1000 pìos de chròicean rèin-fhèidh a lorg a tha 47,000, 25,000, 23,000 agus 8,300 bliadhna a dh'aois. Thàinig na cròicean o rein-fhèidh bhoireann agus o fheadhainn òga, fhireann. Mar sin, dh'fhaodadh gur ann air na leòidean aig ceann a' ghlinne a bhiodh iad a' breith. |
     |
|
| There is a good 2km/1 mile path from the car park at the fish hatchery to the Bone Caves but it does go over some rough and steep ground so please take care at all times. Similarly, though the caves' entrance chambers may be examined standing up, care should be taken at the rear of Reindeer Cave where it drops down to a crawl way. |
Tha
ceum math 2 chilimeatair/mìle a dh'fhaid a' dol bho phàirc
nan càraichean aig ionad-àlaich an èisg gu Uamhan
nan Cnàmhan ach tha e caran garbh is cas ann an cuid de dh'àitichean
agus feumaidh duine a bhith faiceallach fad na h-ùine. Cuideachd,
faodaidh duine na sheasamh |
| The significance of the Bone Caves
is recognised by their designation as an Ancient Monument by Historic
Scotland and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by Scottish Natural
Heritage. Please respect this important site. |
Tha Uamhan nan Cnàmh air an ainmeachadh le Alba Eachdraidheil mar Làrach Eachdraidheil agus le Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba mar Ionad de Shuim Shònraichte Shaidheansail, airson cho cudromach agus a tha iad. Measaibh iad prìseil. |
List of Speciesrecorded from excavations at the Bone Caves (compiled by Tim Lawson in 1996) Mammals Birds Others |
Liosta de ghnèathanair an claradh à cladhaich aig Uamhan nan Cnàmhan (air a cur ri chèile le Tim Lawson ann an 1996) Mamailean Eòin Eile |
A lonely lynxPerhaps the most exciting find was the skull of a Northern Lynx dated at around 1,770 years old, which was found at the back of the inner cave in 1927. This is the only Northern Lynx site in Scotland. How did it get there? There was probably a gap in the roof of the cave and the lynx could have crawled in and died or been dragged there by another animal. Bones of arctic lemming, arctic fox, wolf and brown bear were also found. |
Lioncs aonaranach'S dòcha gur e an rud a b'inntinniche a chaidh a lorg claigeann Lioncs a' Chinn a Tuath. Chaidh aois 1,770 bliadhna a chur air an seo. Chaidh a lorg aig cùl na h-uamha a b'fhaide a-staigh ann an 1927. Seo an aon làrach ann an Alba as aithne dhuinn san robh Lioncs a' Chinn a Tuath. Bha claigeann an lioncs ri cùl na h-uamha as fhaide a-staigh. Ciamar a fhuair e ann? 'S iongantach mura robh beàrn ann am mullach na h-uamha agus dh'fhaodadh an lioncs a bhith air snàigeil a-steach agus bàsachadh no dh'fhaodadh gur e beathach eile a shlaod ann e. Chaidh cnàmhan bho leaman an t-sneachda, sionnach an t-sneachda, madadh-allaidh agus mathan donn a lorg cuideachd. |
Polar bears in Scotland?Another interesting find is that of a probable Polar bear. This was discovered when the 1927 remains were recently re-evaluated. It has been aged at around 18,855 years old. We must remember, though, that the bones of Polar bear and limpet shells could have been dragged in by other animals from a distance. All of the animal bones are important in Scotland, because they are the most complete record of the last glacial period (the Middle and Late Devensian) found in Scotland. Researchers think that the bones were washed in by meltwater from the glaciers that covered Scotland at that time. There is no evidence that people lived in the caves, although they may well have been used for hunting trips. They seem mostly to have been used by animals. There is still a cloak of mystery around the caves, and we will only find the answer by exploring the remains further. There are no plans at the moment for more digging as it is hugely expensive to mount a proper archaeological dig. In the meantime, we ask you not to damage the deposits on site. The lynx and polar bear skulls and some reindeer antlers are on permanent display in the Museum of Scotland in Edinburgh. Casts of some of the material are on display in the Assynt Visitor Centre in Lochinver. |
Mathain Bhàna ann an Alba?Chaidh rud inntinneach eile a lorg agus tha h-uile coltas gur e mathan bàn a bh'ann! Fhuaradh seo a-mach ann an 1927 nuair a chaidh sgrùdadh às ùr a dhèanamh. Chaidh aois 18,855 bliadhna a chur air an seo. Feumaidh sinn cuimhneachadh ge tà gum faodadh beathaichean eile a bhith air closach a' mhathain bhàin agus sligean bhàirneach a shlaodadh ann à àite gu math fada air falbh. Tha cnàmahn nam beathaichean gu lèir cudromach ann an Alba oir 's e seo na beathaichean as slàine a bhuineas do mheadhan agus do dheireadh na Linn Devensianaich (an linn deighe mu dheireadh) a chaidh a lorg ann an Alba. Tha luchd-sgrùdaidh an-dràsta dhen bheachd gun deach an sgoladh a-steach le uisge-deighe a bha a' leaghadh. Chan eil fianais sam bith againn air daoine bhith a' fuireach sna h-uamhan, ged a dh'fhaodadh gun robh iad gan cleachdadh nuair a bha iad a' sealg. Ach bidh e coltach gur e beathaichean bu mhotha a bha gan cleachdadh. Tha dìomhaireachd fhathast co-cheangailte ri na h-uamhan, agus chan fhaigh sinn fuasgladh ach le tuilleadh rannsachaidh a dhèanamh air an fhuigheall a tha air fhàgail. Chan eil plana sam bith san amharc an-dràsta airson tuilleadh a chladhach oir tha e cho daor cladhach dòigheil airceòlais a chur air chois. Tha e air iarraidh air luchd-tadhail gun a' ghrùid air an làraich a mhilleadh. Tha claiginn an lioncs agus a' mhathain bhàin agus cròicean rein-fhèidh ann an taisbeanadh ann an Taigh-tasgaidh na h-Alba ann an Dùn Eideann fad na h-ùine. Tha cumaidhean de chuid dhen stuth rim faicinn ann an Ionad Luchd-turais Asainte ann an Loch an Inbhir. |
Our wooded pastMore recently remains of red and roe deer, rabbit, badger, red and black grouse and even pine marten have been found in Connecting Passage. These suggest that around 4200 years ago, after the last Ice Age, the area was wooded. Perhaps the Allt nan Uamh glen was full of birch and willow 4500 years ago. Certainly there are remnant trees growing on the steep sides of swallow holes - areas where the ground has collapsed into an underground channel. |
Coilltean san linn a dh'fhalbhOn uair sin, chaidh fuigheall bheathaichean a lorg san Trannsa Ceangail. Nam measg bha earb, coineanach, broc, cearc-fhraoich ruadh agus tè dhubh agus fiù 's taghan. Bidh e coltach, mar sin, gun robh beathaichean coille an seo o chionn 4,200 bliadhna, an dèidh Linn na Deighe. 'S dòcha gun robh gleann Allt nan Uamh làn chraobhan beithe is seilich o chionn 4,500 bliadhna. Tha fhathast beagan chraobhan air fhàgail air cliathaichean casa nan lagan far a bheil an ùir air tuiteam ann an tunail fon talamh. |
Hyenas and Hippos The last Ice Age, known as the Quaternary, lasted for about 2 million
years, with cycles of ice building up then melting every 100,000 years
or so. We are in an interglacial now, and the last interglacial was
around 125,000 years ago. At that Around 115,000 years ago the climate became colder and drier and the vegetation changed to tundra. The tundra was grazed by reindeer 40,000 years ago and they were hunted by bear and wolves. Around 25,000 years ago it became colder and wetter again and glaciers started to build up until 18,000 years ago when the ice retreated again. By 13,000 years ago the ice had gone, although it came back briefly 11,000 years ago for around 1000 years. |
Haidhena agus Each-aibhneMhair an Linn Deighe mu dheireadh, ris an canar an Quaternary, mu 2 mhillean bliadhna le cuairtean de dheigh a' cruinneachadh agus an uair sin a' leaghadh a h-uile 100,000 bliadhna no mar sin. Tha sinn eadar linntean deighe an-dràsta. 'S ann o chionn 125,000 bliadhna a thachair seo mu dheireadh. Bhiodh Breatainn air a chòmhdach le craobhan aig an àm sin agus bha e blàth gu leòr airson haidhena agus each-aibhne a bhith ann! Cha do lorg sinn fuigheall bheathaichean on àm seo sna h-uamhan aig Creag nan Uamh. O chionn 115, 000 bliadhna dh'fhàs a' ghnàth-shìde fuar agus tioram agus dh'atharraich na bha a' fàs gu tundra. O chionn 40,000 bliadhna bha rein-fhèidh ag ionaltradh air an tundra. Bhiodh madaidhean allaidh agus mathain gan sealg. Dh'fhàs i na b'fhuaire agus na bu fhliche a-rithist o chionn 25,000 bliadhna. Chum na h-eigh-shruthan a' cruinneachadh gu chionn 18,000 bliadhna. Thòisich an uair sin an deigh a' dol air ais mean air mhean. O chionn 13,000 bliadhna, bha an deigh air leaghadh ged a thill i greiseag airson timcheall air 1,000 bliadhna o chionn 11,000 bliadhna. |
An ice-carved landscapeMassive glaciers would have carved out the Traligill and Allt nan Uamh glens. The cave systems would have started to be formed more than 200,000 year ago when the waterresistant schist had been eroded from above the softer limestone. Water then began to drain into the limestone, dissolving the rock and causing the cracks in the rock to widen and form cave systems. Today there are 13 caves in the Allt nan Uamh glen and 19 in the Traligill Basin. At this time the glen floor would have been at the level of the Cnoc an Uamh and Creag nan Uamh caves. When the glaciers lowered the levels of the glen, the Bone Caves were left where we find them today - high and dry. Exploration is continuing today through this cave system and perhaps one day we will know the full story of how they were formed and who or what lived in them. |
An tìr fo eigh-shruthanBhiodh eigh-shruthan mòra, uabhasach air na glinn ann an Trailigill agus Allt nan Uamh a chruthachadh. 'S ann o chionn 200,000 bliadhna a thòisicheadh na h-uamhan gan cruthachadh nuair a chaidh an schist neo-dhrùidhteach a bhleith far na cloich-aoil a bha na bu bhuige. Thòisich uisge an uair sin a' sruthadh dhan chloich-aoil agus bha seo a' leaghadh na creige agus a' dèanamh sgoltaidhean sa chreig nas leatha agus a' cruthachadh nan uamhan. Aig an àm seo, bhiodh bonn a' ghlinne mun aon ìre àirde ri uamhan Chnoc nan Uamh agus Chreag nan Uamh. An dèidh dha na h-eigh-shruthan àirde a' ghlinne ìsleachadh, chaidh Uamhan nan Cnàmhan fhàgail tioram gu h-àrd far a bheil iad an-diugh. Tha rannsachadh a'dol air adhart fhathast anns na h-uamhan. 'S dòcha gun tig an latha uaireigin a bhios fios againn air a h-uile càil mu dheidhinn ciamar a chaidh an cruthachadh agus cò no dè a bha a' fuireach annta. |
|
|
|
Getting thereThe Bone Caves are situated 4km/2 miles south of Inchnadamph on the A837. Scottish Natural Heritage |
Getting thereTha Uamhan nan Cnàmhan 4 cilimeatair/2 mhìle deas air Innis nan Damh air an A837. Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba |
