Bozkov Dolomite Caves - history
HISTORY, DISCOVERING AND OPENING UP
The discovery of the Bozkov Caves is connected with dolomite mining in a local mine founded on the slope of the plateau called Na Vápenci. The first verbal references to cave spaces, which were later completely quarried, date back to the year 1944, when the mine was operated by a German company. However, the first written evidence of the discovery dates from the year 1947. Thanks to the tireless and dedicated work of local enthusiasts group led by F. Tichánek, J. Kurfiřt and J. Dolenský, the cave spaces were saved from mining and they were gradually explored. Ten years later, on 21 September 1957, the same cave explorers managed to penetrate into larger open spaces in the Staré jeskyně (Old Caves). Objevná cesta (Trail of Discovery) led them through the collapsed Bludiště (Labyrinth) into the fissure cave Jeskyně Překvapení (Surprise Cave), richly decorated with stalactites and stalagmites.
The following intensive speleological survey was carried out together with the Karst Section of the National Museum Society in Prague led by Dr. F. Skřivánek. Electric-resistance geophysical surveys were successfully used here for the first time while searching the caves. On their basis the cave explorers using borrow pits gradually managed to penetrate into several isolated spaces of the Nové jeskyně (New Caves) and also discovered the large Jezerní dóm (Lake Dome). A daring diving exploration of flooded spaces made by Dr. J. Kukla followed. Long-term pumping attempts led to a decrease of the water level in the whole cave system and discovery of further cave spaces that were unknown up to that time.
After the discovery survey and documenting of the whole cave had finished, the Karst Section together with the company Rudný projekt, s.r.o. (Ore project, Ltd.) drew up a project to construct the access. The project was implemented by the company Kladno Stone and Coal Mine Construction in the years 1965–1968.
