Domica Cave

The Domica Cave had offered a short time refuge for the oldest Neolithic inhabitants of the Eastern Slovakia. However, the cave had been mostly settled by the Neolithic humans of the Bukk Mountain Culture. The original entrance was later blocked by debris and the cave became inaccessible.

The Old Domica was known since long ago. J. Majko penetrated from its bottom through 15 m deep abyss into large underground spaces in 1926 where plenty of archaeological findings were discovered later. Post holes from dwelling objects and fireplaces were discovered in several places of the cave. More than 200 reconstructed containers from sherds as well as a terrace-dug slope in a fine-grained loam on the Styx bank with imprints of stone axes are evidences of ceramics manufacture in the cave.

The evidence of fabrics making is the finding of a thick fabric imprint in the loam (the oldest one in Slovakia), clay whorls as well as a fragment of the conic weaving weight unit. The rear parts of the cave served probably as sacred and cult places and charcoal drawings were preserved here.

Only occassional underground water courses flow through the cave. The cave was during intensive rainfall flooded several times in the past. So the agricultural activities were guided to prevent speeding up the runoff waters and soil erosion. At present, public has access to 1,315 m, including the 140 m long underground boat ride.

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Domica Cave is connected with the Čertova diera Cave and together they reach the length of 5,358 m. They also form one genetic unit with the Baradla Cave in Hungary with the total length of about 25 km, from which almost one quarter is in the Slovak territory. In 1995, Domica was added to the list of the UNESCO World Natural Heritage sites.

V roku 1995 UNESCO zaradilo Domicu do svetového prírodného dedičstva. (túto vetu ešte treba prehodiť do angličtiny, tu si tam študoval, to hadam zvladnes, posledne tri slova su World Natural Heritage)

Access to cave
The cave is located 10 km to the south-east from Plešivec (village between Rožňava and Tornaľa), 2 km from the state boundary with Hungary. The parking place is directly at the entrance building. There is educational trail starting from the entrance building and educational exposition installed inside.

How to get there:

Car
From Rožňava through Plešivec direction Domica – 13km
From Tornaľa through Plešivec direction Domica – 50km

Bus/Train

www.cp.sk – Kečovo, Domica

Plane
www.ryanair.com – Bratislava

Accommodation
www.slovakia.tra­vel.sk

More information at: www.ssj.sk

Author: SSJ
Photo: Ing. M. Rengevič

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