The year 2012 marks two important anniversaries for the Bull Rock Cave in the Moravian Karst, namely 140 years since the discovery of the famous “Hallstatt burial” in the entrance Hall of the cave by J. Wankel in 1872; and 100 years since the beginning of the speleological exploration of this cave by members of the Club of German Tourists (VDT) in 1912. Both dates represent significant milestones in the modern history of what is now the second largest cave complex (system) in the Czech Republic.
The Bull Rock Cave (Byci skala Cave) is the principal focus of the caving group 6-01, one of the basic organizations of the Czech Speleological Society (CSS). Every year, for three weekends in May, members of the group together with volunteers from other caving groups open the doors of the cave to the public. These “Days of Open Doors” are attended by thousands of visitors. The program, in addition to excursions to selected parts of the cave, is rich in speleological, archeological and other presentations.
Archeological excavations and research carried out by J. Wankel in 1872 played an important role in the development/evolution and shaping of the science of archeology in Europe during the 19th century. The small bronze statue of a bull that was found in the Hall by two students in 1869 quickly became a symbol of the Bull Rock Cave as well as the entire Czech prehistoric research. Pictures of the statue can be found in school textbooks as well as in popular magazines.
The hundred year anniversary refers to the beginning of the exploration and survey of the cave by German cavers, members of the VDT – Verein Deutscher Touristen, Gruppe für Höhlenforschung in Brno. Their efforts, including diving and blasting, eventually led to the overcoming of the Šenk siphon (Šenkův sifon), then the final closure of the so-called Old Bull Rock Cave (Stará Býčí skála) and the discovery of the New Bull Rock Cave (Nová Býčí skala) with the active stream of the underground Jedovnice Creek (Jedovnický potok), in 1920.
During the first half of the 1980s, members of the modern Bull Rock caving group, CSS ZO 6-01, in cooperation with divers of the Labyrint (Labyrinth) group, discovered the entire underground course of the Jedovnice Creek between the Rudické propadání ponor cave (3.5 km) and the Bull Rock Cave. The Rudické propadání – Bull Rock Cave – Barová Cave system now extends 15 km in length.
Both anniversaries will be celebrated by the Bull Rock caving group ZO CSS 6-01 Byci skala by articles on www.byciskala.cz.