Killavullen Caves, Show cave on the south bank of River Blackwater, Killavullen, Ireland.
Killavullen Caves is a show cave on the south bank of the Blackwater River featuring multiple chambers and passages within limestone formations. The underground network displays natural geological structures shaped by erosion processes over an extended time span.
Archaeological excavations in the 1930s uncovered significant paleontological findings, including remains of giant deer, brown bears, wolves, and reindeer. These bone deposits indicate that the caves were inhabited or used by large animals during the Ice Age.
The caves bore their name from the village location, and historically a blacksmith from the settlement occupied one section and used his forge to light the underground space. Visitors can observe traces of this human occupation within the chambers, demonstrating how residents incorporated the site into their daily lives.
The cave welcomed visitors until steel barriers were installed in the early 1990s to protect the site from damage. If you want to observe the underground structure, approach from the south bank of the river for the clearest view.
The cave system features multiple entrances leading into the same underground network, making it more complex than visitors might first expect. These several access points allowed both historical and prehistoric inhabitants different ways to use and navigate the space.
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