Eldon Hole - Trip Report

[Madness]

Cheers for the report.

Really interested to hear about the human bones and I'll be interested when the result of the dating comes back.

 

[Mrs Trellis]

The highwayman's victims?

 

[Mark R]

The below report extracts dont necessarily relate to the photos but they give you an idea of what we have found.

 

[Speleotron]

Good timing considering Doubleband Films want to film the dig for their archaeology program!

 

[Mark]

So if the human bones pre-date Lloyds shaft account, what then

 

[MarkS]

So if the human bones pre-date Lloyds shaft account, what then

That's exactly what I've been pondering, but there's only one way to find out for certain what's at the bottom...

 

[Speleotron]

Would this be the first ever dig that navigates by the age of the human remains they find?

 

[Tangent_tracker]

Fascinating, but equally sad that we'll likely never know the true story of what happened or who they were!

 

[adam]

There are two differing accounts of the first descent of Eldon Hole by George Bradley. One says that he reported finding animal bones and human remains at the bottom: http://www.countryimagesmagazine.co.uk/walking/walking-eldon-hole/

Another says that he went mad and died shortly afterwards without reporting what he had seen: https://www.mountain.rescue.org.uk/assets/files/The Oracle/History and people/CaveRescueBeforeNeilMoss.pdf (PDF)

They also report the sponsor of the expedition as being either the Earl of Leicester or Henry Cavendish of Chatsworth House...

This descent took place in the late 1500's so could well have been before the supposed second shaft was covered over.

 

[alastairgott]

Adam, I think you're first link may need a pinch of salt, given it says

In more modern times cave explorers have managed to clear most of the rocks dropped by inquisitive tourists. From the bottom of the pothole they found that Eldon Hole is linked to a complex system of underground passages.

 

[braveduck]

Those teeth are in better condition than mine ! 
Fantastic and intriguing ,keep digging and let me know if you need any new buckets and nets.

 

[Brains]

Keep going to bedrock or water?

When I had been down there previously a significant amount of water was flowing down the wall at the bottom of the rubble slope, near the pull through for the up pitches and the abandoned backfilled shaft in the floor - that has to go somewhere

 

[adam]

Adam, I think you're first link may need a pinch of salt, given it says

In more modern times cave explorers have managed to clear most of the rocks dropped by inquisitive tourists. From the bottom of the pothole they found that Eldon Hole is linked to a complex system of underground passages.

Yes, that did raise a figurative eyebrow. However it's not completely fake news is it - modern cave explorers have been digging at the bottom on and off for quite a few years, and it has been dye traced to one of the Peak Cavern resurgences.

 

[Speleotron]

On a bit of tangent, I've never really believed that the rocks down there are from a few drystone walls and a couple of cottages, there seems to be far too much for that. I wonder if old quarrymen used to dump waste down there?

 

[Over the Hill]

Human waste looking at those bones. 

 

[Big Jim]

I think that finding human 'skelingtons' is really exciting news. Maybe next you can find some treasure that'll be worth shit loads and pay for the dig.... and the next dig, and the next dig.....

 

[Mark Wright]

Just to give everyone a bit of an update.

I've just realised its been a month since our last digging trip. We've had a couple of tidying up trips in the entrance and Main Chamber area and had a trip to the top of Millers Chamber with a view to permanently re-rigging the up pitches with some new rope and rigging.

We are still waiting on the issue of the necessary licence to continue digging, although we are hopeful this will be in the next few weeks. Most of the regular digging team have been working away for most of the past month so its not too bad.

The Badgers will be helping out next month with the filming of the 'Britains Ancient Tracks' TV program. Unfortunately Tony Robinson wasn't keen to be lowered down into the Main Chamber but the production company are still keen to have some underground footage taken with helmet mounted GoPro's. 

As soon as we have the licence to start digging again we will let everyone know.

Mark

 

[yrammy]

What a fascinating, difficult and long awaited dig this is. Can I put an order in for the book now!

 

[Cave_Troll]

do you want a 6 foot+ long scaff plank that seems to be in my bathroom?

 

[MJenkinson]

Are we OK to go and have a nosey if we don't do any digging?