Sunyi Cave

Sunyi-lyuk is a cave located in the Pilis Mountains within the Danube–Ipoly National Park, on Mount Csúcs. Of the 11 caves on Mount Csúcs, this is the longest.

Description

It is situated on the edge of Csobánka, on the southern rim of the abandoned limestone quarry of Mount Csúcs, with a natural, horizontal, axis‑oriented entrance measuring 80 × 80 centimetres. It opens 10 metres south of the memorial plaque to József Berda in the quarry, 6 metres higher. A small path leading from the plaque leads up to the entrance.

The 41‑metre‑long cave formed in Upper Triassic Dachstein limestone under phreatic conditions. After the entrance, a five‑metre crawl leads to the cave’s fissure‑like passage, where flowstone formations, stalactite draperies, pendant stalactites, tufa deposits and pea‑size speleothems can be observed. The fissure is wide, comfortably walkable and rich in formations. While traversing, attention must be paid to the floor, as a research pit is located in the middle part of the cave. Its formations and shape are beautiful, with no signs of vandalism. Basic caving equipment is required for viewing.

The bones found in the cave can be divided into two groups according to their age. The older bone assemblage dates from the beginning of the Würm glaciation. From this period, six individuals—cave bear, horse, wild ass, reindeer, bison or ancient aurochs—were recovered, and tooth marks from gnawing were discovered on the bones. The younger assemblage, including deer, European hare, badger, domestic cat, wild boar, fox, large bird, probably turkey, consists of bones at most a few thousand years old.

In the literature the cave also appears under the names Sunyi‑luk (Kraus 1997) and Sunyi luk (Kucsera 1993). In 1990 the cave was first referred to as Sunyi‑lyuk in the literature.

Research History

In 1989 the Aragonit Cave Research Group discovered the previously unknown cave. By enlarging a small opening filled with rock debris at the base of the bushes, they uncovered a six‑metre‑long crawl leading to a six‑metre‑high fissure, whose ceiling featured dome‑shaped chambers, pendant stalactites and stalactite curtains. The fissure passage was horizontal. The walking level was filled with brown clay. Vertical and horizontal air gaps were observed in the clay. The air gap was widened and a large quantity of animal bones was found in the fill. The bones were shown to László Kordos, who determined their age and species. During the excavation, specialists from the Institute of Geology carried out archaeological rescue work.

The 1990 issue of Karszt és Barlang states that in the summer of 1989 the Aragonit Cave Exploration Group uncovered a new cave about 16 metres long near the József Berda memorial plaque, named Sunyi‑lyuk. Bone remains from Würm were recovered from the fill. In 1990 József Kárpát drew its longitudinal section map with a cross‑section, made at a scale of 1:100. In 1990 the Aragonit Cave Exploration Group also explored it. The 1991 manuscript written by József Kárpát mentions that Sunyi‑lyuk (Csobánka) is 17 m long, 9 m deep and under investigation. In 1991 the group did not carry out excavation work there, only sporadic temperature measurements, and repaired the damaged, accident‑prone slide in the cave. László Kordos determined that the bones collected from the Kis Tamás‑lik on 7 July 1991 were probably younger than the bones previously found in Sunyi‑lyuk.

The Aragonit Cave Exploration and Nature‑Friendly Association planned to continue the investigation in 1993 and to close the entrance. According to the association’s 1996 report, the cave is a 6 m fissure, which was cleared in that year. On 28 May 1997 József Regős surveyed it and, based on the survey, on 31 May 1997 Sándor Kraus edited its floor‑plan map with three cross‑sections, made at a scale of 1:100. In May 1997 Sándor Kraus drew a site plan showing the geographic location of the Csúcs‑hegy caves. The plan shows the geographic location of the cave marked Sunyi. Kraus’s 1997 report states that the Sunyi‑luk had already been mapped before 1997. A new map was produced in 1997. The cave is significant and requires further research. The 1997 site plan was included in the report.