Compilation: Alexey Zhalov, Fadil Bajraktari
Editor: Alexey Zhalov, Fadil Bajraktari
Surveys: K. Danailov, V. Gyorev, A. Zhalov, H. Dundarova
Map design in AUTOCAD: K. Danailov
Description of the caves: Alexey Zhalov
Photos: Alexey Zhalov, H. Dundarova, A. Zhalov, Sami Behrami
Edition of ©
[email protected], [email protected]
Abstract
This report details the expedition carried out by members and friends of Bulgarian Caving Society collaboration with the members of Kosovo Institute for Nature Conservation (KINP).The aim of the expedition was the exploration of caves in the vicinity of Zatriq vill located at Akovan Mt. Six speleologists from Bulgaria and two from Kosovo took part in the expedition carried between 9 and 13th April 2017. During the expedition 5 caves with total length of 199.72 m and depth of 99.72 m were studied and mapped. Shpella (Cave) e Zatriqit (Gërgavica) next to Zatriq village was the longest cave explored by the team. Its length was measured to be 92.97 m. Rich cave-dwelling fauna was collected from all of the caves.
Foreword
In 2016 Bulgarian Caving Society obtain 1 – year license from the Ministry of Environment and Spatial Planning of Republic of Kosovo for carrying out of speleological studies under the supervision and coordination of the Kosovo Institute for Nature Conservation (KINP). The Institute propose 3 different areas of exploration. The first one of them is the mountain of Zatriq village.
Aims
Primary aim
To explore the caves pointed from the Institute for Kosovo Institute for Nature Conservation (KINP) in the vicinity of Zatriq village and on the territory Akovan, Rahovec Municipality, Republic of Kosovo
Objectives
To explore and survey all caves and to study them from zoological point of view.
Secondary objectives
The expedition area
The municipality of Rahovec is located in south-western Kosovo. It covers an area of approximately
275 km² and includes Rahovec town and 35 villages including Zatriq village. The expedition focused on the mountain range of the mountains of Zatriqi (Akavan 1039 m) part of the mountain system Koznik-Zatriq-Shkoze Range. The mountains of Shkoza, Zatriq and Koznik represent a morphological order of the Horst of Dukagjinit of 10 km wide and 20 km wide mountains. They are formed by limestone and serpentine formations.
Geological Setting
The rocks in the observed area are represented by massive sandy limestones with rudists at SantonianMaastrichtian age and rudist limestones at Maastrichtian age. These limestones build a NNW-SSE elongated plate, located between two ophiolitic sequences which belong to the „Rahovec Jurassic Ophiolite Complex“ obducted to WSW during the Cretaceous crustal accretion in the area. The
downward inclination of the limestone rocks is between 30 and 50 degrees in NE. The limestone are reactive rocks tending to absorb mineral-rich heated brines, and metals in some favourable horizons. The ultrabasic serpentinised rocks that make up the ophiolite fragments hostchrome, which break down under tropical to sub-tropical weathering over time to produce accumulations of bauxite. These bauxite deposits are hosted in the limestone karst and represent the remnants of weathered ultrabasics.
1 Knobloch, A., E. Dickmayer, C. Legler, N. Peci, V. Pruthi, M. Sieste, 2006. The digital geological map of Kosovo at scale 1:100 000 (DGM 100).
CAVE EXPLORATION ТЕAM
| Alexey Zhalov | Bulgaria | Speleologist |  |
| Кiril Danailov | Bulgaria | Eng. Geodesist Кiril Danailov Bulgaria Bulgaria Speleo Club “Helictite” – Sofia |  |
| Heliana Dundarova | Bulgaria | Zoologist Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences |  |
| Vanyo Gyorev | Bulgaria | Speleologist |  |
| Fadil Bajraktari | Kosovo | KINP Kosovo Institute for Nature Conservation |  |
| Sami Behrami | Kosovo | KINP Kosovo Institute for Nature Conservation |  |
| Administration and logistics Travel and internal transport The expedition members from Bulgaria travel by car of K. Danailov – Prishtinë via Skopje and get back to Bulgaria. The travel in Kosovo was realised by the same car. The travel with car in Kosovo requires travel insurance 15 Euros for two weeks which one could obtain in the check border point. |
| Food and Accommodation The Bulgarian cavers were accommodated in the Hostel in Malishevë Town. During the expedition members ate at some local restaurants. Permission and permits Travel in Kosovo don’t requires visa for Bulgarian citizens. |
| Vertical caving Exploration of vertical caves used single rope technique (SRT) 10 mm rope. The expedition members were experienced cavers already well versed in this technique. |
| Documentation Recording of entrance locations: Whenever possible, entrance locations were recorded by means of GPS (Global Positioning System). Readings were recorded as UTM grid coordinates, using the WGS84 datum parameters. The UTM zone is 34T. Photographs were taken of all cave features and entrances to aid future location. Cave surveying The expedition used precision sighting compasses professional geological compass Freiberger Präzisionsmechanik (DDR). The lengths’ were measured with Bosch Laser Distance Meter (Bocsh Professional DLE 50 and Laser Distance Meter DeWALT DW030P. All surveying data were computed and fully or partially processed on spot with Autocad. The cave surveys in PDF format are available at or can be requested from Bulgarian Caving Society and KINP. Photography Members of the expedition carried simple photography equipment (SLR and HD /digital cameras, small flashguns). Some of the expedition pictures and videos were placed online at: |
| Whenever possible, entrance locations were recorded by means of GPS (Global Positioning System). Readings were recorded as UTM grid coordinates, using the WGS84 datum parameters. The UTM zone is 34T. Photographs were taken of all cave features and entrances to aid future location. Cave surveying The expedition used precision sighting compasses professional geological compass Freiberger Präzisionsmechanik (DDR). The lengths’ were measured with Bosch Laser Distance Meter (Bocsh Professional DLE 50 and Laser Distance Meter DeWALT DW030P. All surveying data were computed and fully or partially processed on spot with Autocad. The cave surveys in PDF format are available at or can be requested from Bulgarian Caving Society and KINP. Photography Members of the expedition carried simple photography equipment (SLR and HD /digital cameras, small flashguns). Some of the expedition pictures and videos were placed online at: |
D I A R Y of the Speleological Expedition “ Zatriq, 2017”
| 9 April 2017 Travel of the Bulgarian team from Sofia (Bulgaria) via Skopje to Prishtinë. Departure in Pristina. Meeting with the representatives of Kosovo Institute for Nature Conservation Fadil Bajraktari, Sami Behrami & Vadhet Pruti – discussions. Transfer to a hostel! |
| 10 April 2017 Travel to Zatriq village. Preparation for caving. Trekking to the cave / Shpella e Peshterrit with the exploration and surveying of the cave. The team divide in two groups – K. Danailov, A. Zhalov supported of Sami Behrami to survey the cave and Vanyo Gyorev, Heliana Dundarova and Fadil Bajraktari went to explore and survey the cave Shpella e Bali Agës. The explorers of Shpella e Peshterrit found a shell in the cave and later inform the police about this. Both cave have been surveyed and the Bulgarian team went to Malishevë town where accommodate in little hotel. |
| 11 April 2017 Travel to Zatriq and took a guide from the village to show us non explored vertical cave. After 1 hour of trekking reach to the place where the cave could be and start to search it without success. Sami Behrami break away from the group and start to search the cave. Finally they found another cave – the well-known vertical cave Shpella e Pëllumbave (Pigeons’Cave). A. Zhalov rig the cave and K. Danailov & H. Dundarova drop so to explore and survey it. The guide was fired with ambition to find the first vertical so he continued to search it and after one more hour find it. The name of the cave Shpella e Mbretëreshës se Bardhë (White Queen’s Cave). A. Zhalov rig the cave. K. Danailov start the surveying and H. Dundarova drop to the cave to made zoological observation. |
| 12 April 2017 Travelling to Zatriq for the exploration and mapping of Shpella e Zatriqit (Gërgavica). The team divided. A. Zhalov start the cave mapping form the entrance to the narrow place and other (K. Danailov, V. Gyorev, H. Dundarova the passages behind. After the exploration the team, supported form Sami Behrami moved to village Dush – Klina to visit the Shpella e Dushit and to made zoological observation in it. |
| 13 April 2017 Travelling to Pristina. Meeting with Fadil Bajraktari and Sami Behrami and discussion under the next steps of cooperation. We agreed that the next studies will be in the Pashtrik Mt. close to Kosovo – Albanian border. Travel to Sofia. |
Explored Caves
| Travelling to Pristina. Meeting with Fadil Bajraktari and Sami Behrami and discussion under the next steps of cooperation. We agreed that the next studies will be in the Pashtrik Mt. close to Kosovo – Albanian border. Travel to Sofia. |
| № | Name of the Cave | Village | Altitude (m) | Length (m) | Depth (m) |
| 1 | Shpella e Peshterrit | Zatriq | 778 | 33.90 | -16 |
| 2 | Shpella e Bali Agës | Zatriq | 910 | 36.00 | -6.00 |
| 3 | Shpella e Pëllumbave | Zatriq | 929 | 22.17 | -25.93 |
| 4 | Shpella e Mbretëreshës se Bardhë | Zatriq | 828 | 14.68 | -48.04 |
| 5 | Shpella e Zatriqit (Gërgavica) | Zatriq | 848 | 92.97 | -3,74 |
Cave / Shpella e Peshterit
Zatriq village, Rahovec Municipalty
Coordinates: N 42.471171, E 20.625649, WGS 84
Length: 33.86 m; Depth: – 16.00 m
The cave is located at 1 410 m (in strait line) NE from Zatriq village in the foot of W slope of Akovan Mt. The entrance is situated at 794 m.a.s.l. and is oriented at West. The cave is ponor (sinkhole) and collect the water coming from two gullies. The amount of inflow varied and depends of the season and climatic conditions. The catchment area is about 1.2 square km. The cave is formed in Cretaceous (Maastrichtian) limestone and developed along a fissure with direction E-NE. The entrance has a form of semi ellipse with dimensions 10.30 in width and 5.76 in height. The firs cave passage is low grade and terraced gallery leading to a little pit – 3.80 m. The bottom of this passage is covered by boulders. One part of the water coming from inside passed below the boulders and jumped in the pit. Next part of the stream passed through the by – pass in the right side of the entrance gallery. The bottom of the pit is reachable trough the by – pass. The bottom has dimensions about 5.70 х 6.60 m. and also a little like in its western end. The eastern part of the room ended on the edge of the second pit – 3. 70 m. From the bottom starts the last cave passage – length 13.40 m average width 4 m and max height 3.40 m. The cave ended with two narrowing totally stuffed by trees, grass, ground and rubbish. The water sinks in the sediment. Many tree leaves and straws are fixed to the walls of the hall. They mark the level at which water rises after flooding. Perhaps the passages after the crowdedness’s in the end are rather narrow and cannot omit large amounts of water. From this point of view, the prospects for the continuation of the cave are not very large. The cave was explored and mapped at 10- th April 2017
during Bulgarian – Kosovo expedition.
Cave / Shpella e Pëllumbave
Zatriq village, Rahovec Municipalty
Coordinates: N42.468500, E20.630670, WGS 84
Length: 22.17 m; Depth: -25.93 m
The cave is located at 1 100 m (in strait line) NE from Zatriq village in the upper part of E slope of Akovan Mt. The entrance is situated at 929 m.a.s.l. and represents fissure with length 8.82 m and average width 1.20 m. oriented at direction NW-SE. The depth of the pit in SE part of the entrance is 11.20 m. The gallery which start form the bottom is low grade (inclination 43 deg.) and is 22 m long. The width of the passage varied from 1.60 to 2.80 m. The height is around 6 m. The bottom is covered by gravels, boulders and clay. The cave was explored and mapped at 11- th April 2017 during Bulgarian – Kosovo expedition .
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Cave / Shpella e Mbretëreshës se Bardhë
Zatriq village, Rahovec Municipality
Coordinates: N42.474889, E20.632448
Length: 14.68, Depth: – 48.04
The cave is located at 1 890 m (in strait line) NE from Zatriq village in the E slope of Akovan Mt. The entrance is situated at 828 m.a.s.l It has orthogonal to oval form with dimension 9.46 x 4.56 m and is oriented to NE. The depth of the main pit looking from NE is 34.34 m. From SW part of the entrance the depth is higher or 47.44 m. The bottom is flat, dry and covered with clay and dry branches. The cave was explored and mapped at 11-th April 2017 during Bulgarian – Kosovo expedition.
Cave / Shpella e Zatriqit (Gërgavica)
Zatriq village, Rahovec Municipality
Coordinates: N42.452603, E20.641797
Length: 92.97 m; Depth: – 3.74 m; Area: 288 square m
The cave is located at 1 480 m (in strait line) SE from Zatriq village at 848 m.a.s.l and in the S slope of Akovan Mt. The cave is horizontal. The entrance is triangle with dimension width 3.25 m and 5.45 height and is oriented to south. The first passage of the cave is developed to SW. Its’ length is 22.90 m. The average width and height is about 3.50 m, respectively 2 m but the maximal height reach about 6 m. The bottom of this part of the cave is covered by soil and gravels. In the end of the passage 1.10 up from the floor there is narrowing (length 0.70 m). The passage behind is about 14 m long. Its width is about 4 m. The average height is 3 m. In the end of the passage the cave turns in SE but after take the same direction as before – the gallery is 32 m long. The width of the passage varied from 1.70 to 3 m –the height is about 2.5 m. The cave ended with a little hall with dimensions 10 x 30 m and height 6.5m. There is big pile of guano in the middle of the hall. The cave was object of archaeological excavation. There are two excavations in the entrance part of the cave. Fragments of potteries have been found. The artefacts were determinate (date) from Chalcolithic (Eneolithic) to Early Bronze age. The cave was explored and mapped at 12- th April 2017 during Bulgarian – Kosovo expedition2
2. l. Përzhita, K. Luci, G. Hoxha, A. Bunguri, F. Peja, T. Kastrati (2006), Harta arkeologjike e Kosovës, Prishtinë, 2006,
p.57-59.
Cave / Shpella e Bali Agës
Zatriq village, Rahovec Municipality
Coordinates: N42.466694, E20.628326
Length: 36.00, Depth: – 6.00
The cave is located at 920 m (in strait line) NE from Zatriq village at 910 m.a.s.l, and in the W slope of
Akovan Mt. It is low-grade and is developed at SW direction. The entrance t has semi- elliptic form with dimension width 0.84 x 1.70 m and is oriented to NW. The main gallery is 20 long and has inclination about 29 degrees. Its average width is 2 with height varied from 1.60 to 2.30 m. On the left (NW) side the gallery has two appendices the second one ended with a oval room with dimensions 2.90 x 3.35 m. The bottom of the passage is covered with gravels. The main gallery takes right branch at 9.90 m far from the entrance. This passage developed parallel of the main one and is 8 m long. There are two steps of about 2.5 m deep. Both parts of the cave joint together on their ends. The cave was explored and mapped at 11- th April 2017 during Bulgarian – Kosovo expedition.
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Biospeleological Report
Assistant Heliana Dundarova, PhD Student
Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research
at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences and Bulgarian Caving Society
www.iber.bas.bg, www.bgcave.org
During the first Bulgarian-Kosovo speleo expedition a cave – dwelling invertebrates were hand-collected from different kinds of terrestrial microhabitats (stones, guano, clay and sand). All collected samples were stored at 95% ethanol. Overall three caves were explored. All the collected samples are grouped for identification by the specialists, which require a longer period of time. This report is not final and reflects only to the materials identified so far. The detailed report will be provided after the final determination of the collected biospeleological material.
Preliminary results:
1. Shpella e Bali Agës, Zatriq village, N42.466694, E20.628326, H. Dundarova leg.Gastropoda (snails):
- Zebrina detrita (Müller, 1774), 3 add, adl
- Jaminia quadridens (O.F. Muller, 1774), 1add family Clausiliidae, 1add
Coleoptera (beetles): family Curculionidae, 2 ind
Hymenoptera (ants, bees, wasps and sawflies)
family Ichneumonidae
Diphyus quadripunctorius (Müller, 1776), 2 f
Diplopoda (millipedes):Megaphyllum sp. Verhoeff, 1894, 1 f
2 . Shpella e Ztriqit (Gërgavica), Zatriq village, N42.452603, E20.641797, H. Dundarova, V. Gyorev leg.
Araneae (spiders):
Tegenaria animata Kratochvíl & Miller, 1940, 2 f, 1 j. New species for Kosovo cave fauna
Orthoptera (grasshoppers):
Troglophilus neglectus Krauss, 1879, 1 f, 4 j
Chilopoda (centipedes): Lithobius sp. Leach, 1814, 4 ind
3. Shpella e Dushit, N42.531793, E20.593597, A. Zhalov V. Gyorev, leg.
Araneae (spiders):
Nesticus cellulanus (Clerck, 1757), 1 m, 3 f, 2 j
Metellina merianae (Scopoli, 1763), 4 m, 3 f
Porrhomma convexum (Westring, 1851), 1 m
Vertebrates:
Bats:
Within Shpella Dush cave a bat colony was found, probably the number of bat species is around three: Myotis blythii, Myotis capaccinii and Rhinolophus hipposideros. Further, investigations are needed to assign the number of bat species and the importance of this cave for the colony/s during the winter and
summer.
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Lizards and salamanders:
On the way to Shpella e Pëllumbave and Shpella e Mbretëreshës, close to Zatriq village two
individuals of Lacerta viridis were identified. Further, within a spring close to the village juvenile
individuals of Salamandra salamandra were also detected
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Legend of abbreviations:
add – adult shell
adl – adult live
f – female
ind – individuals
j – juvenile
leg – collector
m – male
Acknowledgement:
Boyan Vagalinski, Dragan Chobanov, Ivailo Dedov and Simeon Lukanov, scientists from the Institute of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Research at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, and Christo Delchev from National Museum of Natural History Sofia.
