It all started when
Lionel asked me if I'd seen the "bison bone" in Valley Entrance. When
he said Valley Entrance, I was very sceptical but having not been caving since
heart surgery two years ago, I was easily persuaded and quite keen to be
underground again at last. Lionel, Terry, and I were all going to the
archaeology talk at Bull Pot that Saturday so we decided to go down Valley
Entrance beforehand. On the day, we met at Bernie's and after a bowl of soup
set for the cave. We had just got into Kingsdale, when it started to hail.
However, changing under Terry's tail gate wasn't so bad as Lionel's oversuit,
which he kindly lent me, was 2 sizes bigger than mine. Terry's Custom Duo lamp
was a bonus as well, compared to my Oldham. A quick sprint across the field and
I slid down the oil drum and onto my hands and knees. My hands were quite numb
and cold, and the fact that I had difficulty regaining my old crawling rhythm
didn't help. I eventually got to the first chamber and was amazed by a wall of
white calcite. I realized why Terry was so enthusiastic about the Duo
light."Not bad for £30, eh, Terry?!" We were passed by 3 people who I
thought were "ironmongers" as they were jangling musically down the
passage. We found the small rift, just off the main passage, holding our target
- the bison bone - and photographed it. Well, at least Terry did as my camera
failed again! The bone is about the size of my arthritic fist and at head
height in a small rift in the limestone wall. Back in the main passage we were
passed by 2 more parties before returning to the entrance and a dry evening.
Later, we attended the archaeology talk, which I found to be an excellent
lecture on how archaeological finds in the Dales caves, such as bone spoons,
are on a par with French cave paintings, such as those at Lascaux.
James
Newton