Heidehof Farm Bat Cave

A.Hitchcock, P.Swart, August 2003

Description

Bat Cave is situated at the back of the small valley between the windmill and the farm house. It consists of an oval chamber approximately 16m by 11m. In places there are pockets in the ceiling that are approximately 3m high, but in general the chamber ceiling is much lower.

There is a second small entrance and a number of low passages at the back of the chamber. Darryl Holland managed to open a constriction and found a lovely polished passage and chamber beyond. There is a narrow passage that leads off this chamber before doubling back to join the main chamber. The narrower passages are beautifully polished in the constricted places. This is probably caused by animals such as porcupines forcing their way through. Plenty of large gnawed bones were found in this part of the cave.

Survey and Exploration

The team was taken to the cave by the farmer, and after thoroughly exploring the cave, Anthony Hitchcock, Ron Zeeman, Eugene Balsen and Joan Vlok surveyed the cave. During a future visit, a team should consider searching the surface for evidence of the breakdown in the eastern loop passage.

The compass was not calibrated, so there may be errors in the north sign on the survey.

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Survey

Survey

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