Koněpruské jeskyně | |
 Frontal wall of the Koněprusy Caves | |
  Koněprusy Caves Location in the Czech Republic Show map of Europe Koněprusy Caves Koněprusy Caves (Czech Republic) Show map of Czech Republic | |
| Location | Koněprusy |
|---|---|
| Region | Central Bohemian Region, Bohemian Karst, Czech Republic |
| Coordinates | 49°54′58.33″N14°4′7.92″E / 49.9162028°N 14.0688667°E /49.9162028; 14.0688667 |
| Type | limestonekarst |
| Length | 2 km (1.24 mi) |
| History | |
| Material | limestone |
| Periods | Paleolithic |
| Associated with | Paleo-humans |
Koněprusy Caves (Czech:Koněpruské jeskyně), alsoZlatý kůň (Golden Horse), is acave system in the BohemianKarst in theCentral Bohemian Region of theCzech Republic. It is located in the municipality ofKoněprusy, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) southwest ofPrague, 6 km (3.7 mi) south ofBeroun. With the length of 2 km (1.2 mi) and vertical range of 70 m (230 ft), it is the largest cave system inBohemia.[1]
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A hill calledZlatý kůň (Golden Horse) rises above the village ofKoněprusy close to another hill called Kobyla (Mare), and nearby is a place calledV koníku (In a Little Horse). A short journey westward leads to Kotýz, a karst plateau. The caves descend underground from a shaft near the top of the Golden Horse hill. Many legends have been created about Kotýz, such as one which tells of sacred horses used by theCelts for campaigns of war. A prehistoric settlement existed here which in Celtic times, according to experts, served as a place of cult worship. Druids possibly maintained a cult of the horse here.[citation needed]
Golden Horse hill conceals the most extensive cave system inBohemia, accidentally discovered after a nearby blast in a limestonequarry in 1950. They were subsequently made accessible for the public in 1959.[2] Spanning two kilometers and three levels, the cave system inside theZlatý kůň hill consists of passages and domed chambers interconnected by shafts developed in limestone of theDevonian age. The caves were formed by a small stream at the end of theTertiary period, as well as rainfall that seeped through cracks in the limestone, resulting in richspeleothem formations from an abundance ofstalagmites andstalactites as well as littlesinter lakes. A tour leads visitors through the upper and middle levels of the cave system. The most beautiful area is deemed by experts to be the extensive Prošek chamber with its sinterJezírko lásky (Little lake of love). The cave containsspeleothems referred to colloquially as "Koněprusy Roses", formed by the gradual precipitation of dissolvedcalciumcarbonate on the walls of the underground lake, creating an unusual formation reminiscent of rose blooms.
Paleontologists have excavated from these caves thousands of prehistoric animal bones from thePleistocene period. Dating back 200,000 to 300,000 years, findings include the remains of many species includingmastodons,sabre-toothed cats,monkeys,cave bears,deer,reindeer,cave lions,woolly rhinos,wolves,beavers,hyenas andhorses.[4]
The fossilized bones of prehistoric humans dated to about 45,000 years (theZlatý kůň woman),[5] stone tools, and decorative objects from the earlyStone Age provide evidence that prehistoric humans too found refuge in the caves. Acounterfeiter's workshop, since dubbed "the Mint", was discovered on the upper level of the caves. From about 1460 to 1470, unknownforgers made theHussite coins bearing the symbol of theCzech lion. Instead ofsilver they usedcopper thinly plated with silveramalgam.
