Berki-pusztai No 1 Cavity

The Berki-pusztai 1. sz. cavity is a cave located in the Danube–Ipoly National Park, in Sóskút.

Description

The Berki-pusztai 1. sz. cavity is situated on the Érd–Ercsi hinterland, on the edge of Sóskút (outside the built-up area), near the M7 motorway. It is located on the southern side of the Benta stream, on the southern slope of the hill lying between Sóskút and the motorway; the Berki-pusztai cavities are found there, with the Berki-pusztai 1. sz. cavity being the southernmost. Approaching the cave from the south is made difficult by an acacia thicket that climbs the hill slope, therefore it is advisable to visit from the north (from above), where it is easier to walk along the edge of the forest.

This short cavity lies very close to the surface, in the outcrop of the Zámori Gravel Formation's resistant rock material. In fact it is a cave arch, whose destruction (geologically measured) is not far off. The rock material of the enclosing rock outcrop varies from conglomerate to sandstone. (The conglomerate pebbles are relatively large and consist of quartz–quartzite material.) The enclosing rock outcrop is separated from the hill slope's rock mass along a fault, and the detached block is connected at its base by a handle.

Thick soil in the cave shows accumulations of hay, which serve as bedding for large mammals. The thick humus fill is loose, and it is clearly visible that the cave's extent is much larger than its current volume. Yellowed bones lie on the humus-rich floor (fox skull, other small mammals). There is no formation in the cavity, but the reworked pebbles and the eroded edge of the upper conglomerate layer, which is more resistant to weathering, provide an interesting sight. Some waste can be observed in the immediate surroundings of the cavity. No equipment is required to enter the cave, which can be viewed without a permit.

In 1976 the cave was first called Berki-pusztai 1st cavity in the literature. The cave also occurs in the literature under the name Berki-pusztai 1st cavity (Gazda 2005).

Research history

In the manuscript written by Árpád Halász on February 5, 1964, it is stated that the Berki-pusztai cavities are located on the low rear area between Sóskút (Pest County), D from Sóskút, the Pázmándi field and the Mill ditch. From Berki-puszta (Tárnok) to ÉNy, about 2 km away, between the triangulation points 131 and 162, on a low hill about 1.5 km long oriented DK–ÉNy, between Sóskút and Berki-puszta, the caves are found. The cavities are on the ENE side of the hill. (The data were determined by István Halász based on the map Sóskút and its surroundings (scale 1:50 000) published in 1951.) The cavities can be approached from Ér in about 30 minutes by the Sóskút bus, which must be taken to Ötházpuszta. It is also possible to go to Sóskút by bus, from where, walking through varied terrain along the picturesque Benta stream valley, the caves can be reached on foot in 1 hour.)

During a field walk carried out in search of karst phenomena, the caves were discovered on July 26, 1942 by Árpád Halász. The investigation of the extension of the karstic limestone D towards the south led to the area. The cavities have no name and are not mentioned in the literature. Árpád Halász proposes that, since there are several cavities and they are near Berki-puszta, the name Berki-pusztai cavities should be used for the cavity group. From a speleological point of view it is worthwhile to study the genetics of the cavities. The caves formed in a Levantine, carbonate‑bearing pebble conglomerate, which generally consists of quartz, sandstone and a little limestone material of 2–6 cm diameter. The pebbles are well rounded. This rock here is thick‑bedded, layered, with cross‑beds observable in places. Due to insufficient exploration Halász could not measure the direction and angle of the bedding dip. The cavities formed in the loosely cemented conglomerate both by deflation and by the erosive action of rainwater along cracks.

Below the conglomerate rocks there are cave‑like depressions that extend longitudinally. Their length usually varies between 2–5 m, their height 0.5–1 m, and their width 5–6 m. The ceilings of the crawl‑through cavities are flat. Most flat cavities are on the ÉK side. A large cave could not have formed in the pebble conglomerate unsuitable for karstification. Árpád Halász descended into one narrow funnel, but after 2 m the passage became so narrow that it could not be traversed. Many small mammal bones were found in the cavities (indicating the presence of foxes), but no archaeological finds. A bat flew out of one cavity. Since the bat was not seen repeatedly, it probably only stayed temporarily in the cave.

The formation of the morphological forms of the Berki-pusztai cavities was due to deflation and erosion. The study of the stone niches provides new data for understanding the formation problems of non-karstic caves and draws attention to the deflational and erosional origin cavities of the Levante formations in the vicinity of Sóskút. Because of their small size, the cavities have no economic or tourism significance. From a tourist point of view they are worth visiting, because we will always gladly recall the picturesque region of the Benta stream valley. From the hilltop there is a beautiful view of the gently rolling Transdanubian landscape. In good weather the peaks of the Velence Mountains can also be seen from here. It is worthwhile to deal with the Berki-pusztai cavities (especially from a speleological perspective). The cavities must be surveyed, mapped precisely, and the caves photographed. Their scientific significance lies in the observation of deflation phenomena. They provide useful data for the forthcoming cave catalogue. Attached to the manuscript is a site map showing the geographical location of the Berki-pusztai cavities (M = 1:25,000). The map, on which four cave signs can be seen on the Pázmándi slope, was drawn in 1964 by Árpád Halász.