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People and caves
People have been using
caves for shelter for about 500,000 years. Very few people, however,
actually lived in cav es, because they are dark, damp, and cold. Caves are
also sometimes home to hyenas, bears, and other meat-eating animals.
Some caves were used as a place to clean game
animals or perform ceremonies. Many of these caves still contain ancient
wall paintings and tools.
Recently, people have begun to use caves for
fun. The sport of exploring caves is called spelunking. Spelunking takes
special equipment and a lot of caution. Darkness hides the unknown cave
features, and flooding and falling rocks are common.
From about AD 1000 to 1300, several groups of
Native American peoples lived in cliff dwellings in what is today the
southwestern United States. Some built two- or three-story houses on
protected ledges in the sides of cliffs. Others built rooms in shallow,
well-lit caves. These people grew crops on the plains below their houses.
What is a Cave |
How caves are formed? |
Cave
Landscapes |
Stalagmites & Stalactites |
Cave animals |
People and caves |
