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21 The Myth, Mystery and Magic of Caves What happens within the earth, in caves hidden from sound, light and movement? Caves evoke a sense of awe and wonder, calling for exploration. Whether formed of rock at the seaside or tunneled in a mountainside at the edge of the desert, caves bid us to enter. We respond. Perhaps we have discovered a secret—a hush comes over us, followed by a quiet sense of excitement and curiosity. Or perhaps we have found one of earth's gifts, a natural shelter from the harsh elements— we feel protected. The caves of Lascaux offered protection, a sanctuary and a canvas for an ancient world. And now, Lascaux is a place of delight and amazement. On the other hand, Plato's Republic taught us the myth of the cave, that something hidden, far from the light, resonates with secrets, things mysterious and even a little frightening. More than 35,000 years ago primitive people were constructing caves or protecting the ones they found: Dwellings soon became places of safekeeping, burials, ceremonies, rituals; and, as Lascaux teaches us, caves could be art galleries. Some of our most reliable information about early humans and their relationship to their landscape and to the creatures of the earth has come from iconography in primitive caves. These ancient caves are found on all of the continents, even Antarctica. In Africa, the Namibian caves have become famous and have been utilized in modern times during both world wars for reliable water and nitrate supplies. During the American Civil War, bat guano from the Frio Cave in Texas was used as the chief ingredient of gunpowder. Now, in the 21st century, more caves are being mined than at any time in history, as we rediscover an ancient principle: The earth itself is a remarkable insulator from heat, cold, drying air and light, virtually impervious to subterranean shifting.

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