Solkota Cave Natural Monument
Morphology
Solkota Cave formed in Sataphlia-Tskaltubo karst massif. Cave entrance is at the bottom of a well in a karst topography covered by vegetation. From here steep corridor expands to 10-15 m and morphs into horizontal floor that leads to a chamber with height of almost 30 m. Cave has an interesting diversity of chemical sediments, stalactites and stalagmites. Of particular interest are stalactites of 5 m thickness, size which is rare in Europe. Also notable is an 8 m high stalagmite with the circumference of 8.5 m at it bottom and 4.5 m in the middle.
Fauna
The inhabitants of the cave include Trachysphaera, Colchidoniscus, Laemostenus, Arrhopalites, Pygmarrhopalites, Plutomurus and Oxychilus.
Paleontological findings
The cave is a paleontological and in particular a molecular paleontology monument. Solkota Cave stalagmites preserved ancient DNA molecules of mammals (bear, roe deer, bats) and plants (chestnut, hazelnut, flax). Bones of cave bear has been found here.
See also
References
- ^ Solkota Cave in Georgia Protected Planet
- ^ (in Georgian) სოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი
- ^ Barjadze, Sh., Arabuli, T., Mumladze, L., Maghradze, E., Asanidze, Z., Kutalia T. Solkota Cave 2019, Cave Biodiversity of Georgia, Open Access Database. Institute of Zoology at Ilia State University
- ^ Stahlschmidt, M.C., Collin, T.C., Fernandes, D.M. et al. Ancient Mammalian and Plant DNA from Late Quaternary Stalagmite Layers at Solkota Cave, Georgia. Sci Rep 9, 6628 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-43147-0
- ^ (in Georgian) ბუნების ძეგლი სოლკოტას მღვიმის ბუნების ძეგლი - წყალტუბო