Morocco 1981 Cerberus SS Expedition

The Cerberus Spelaeological Society had a second expedition to Morocco in 1981, the first one was in 1976. On both expeditions we drove from England to Morocco where we were based in the Middle Atlas mountains near Taza. Taza is located near the top right of this map.

Here are a few photos from the 1981 expedition. This was our transport -





 The next few are of the gorge to Bab Bou Idir -



Oleanders on the track to Kef Chara -

 An awkwad bend before Kef Chara camp site -

 

We finally get underground in Kef Chara,. The divers getting ready-

 

This was the walk to Kef Chara -

This was the walk to Kef Roadi -

and looking down into the cave, note person on right -

 

Another cave, Kef Oudjil -

A view of the Chikker Basin from Kef Friouato -

Friouato entrance shaft -

and Chikker entrance -

Gouffre Friouato is one of the largest cave systems in northern Africa. It is open to the public as a 'basic' show cave. The entrance shaft has steps and is 100 m deep. Below are large passages that end in a sump.

Gouffre Chikker entrance is surrounded by a dam. It drains the Chikker basin.

See more on The Friouato Caves on the Morocco tourism site.

Morocco 1976 Cerberus SS Expedition

I participated in 2 caving expeditions to Morocco, in 1976 and 1981. These were organised by the Cerberus Spelaeological Society. We went to the Middle Atlas Mountains, near Taza. Taza is at the top right, see arrow -

In 1976, the first expedition organised by the Cerberus SS,  we focussed on the major cave systems of Gouffre Friouato and the Grotte du Chiker.

Here is a video posted by an expedition member, Peter Glanvill.

I don't seem to have many photos at all of the expedition -

 A view of Taza -

and the countryside around Taza -

 

 The entrance to Frioato -

Gouffre Friouato is one of the largest cave systems in northern Africa. It is open to the public as a 'basic' show cave. The entrance shaft is 100 m deep. Below are large passages that end in a sump.

See more about Friouato on the Moroccan tourism site. And more photos by Pete Glanvill.

See - The 1981 CSS expedition.

Malta - the Limestone Heritage

My second blog on Malta's limestone. See first part on the limestone and caves.

The Limestone Heritage is a very interesting place, basically an exhibition of how the stone was quarried. It is located in an old quarry just outside Siggiewi. Globigerina Limestone was quarried here but due to the number of fossils the rock was unsuitable for building so the quarry was only operational for 5 years.

9 Euro entry. Firstly you watch a short film in an auditorium, many languages are available. The film was really interesting, telling about the use of quarrying from early times to present. The film said that more stone has been produced in the last 40 years using modern mechanized techniques than was produced in the last 700 years. In the days of horse and carts, 30 blocks could be put on one cart. The men worked from sunrise until midday.

Then you go on a self guided tour with a headset. The exhibition is laid out in the old quarry and there are 14 stops with explanation at each one. You see the methods of stone extraction, originally done by hand using splitting techniques, then the more modern techniques using machinery and saws and you see how the stone was loaded onto the trucks - these replaced the older horse and carts.  It was really good although I found it a bit rushed. The models of the workers looked lifelike, wearing real clothes.

The quarry walls -

bell well

After you go around a few more exhibits showing the use of stone. You walk past a farmhouse with has many stone features, e.g. water channels, cupboard, stove, ventilator, staircase etc.

This example of  stone cat door is interesting -

There is an example of a girna, the traditional Maltese stone hut used by herdsmen for shelters and many can still be seen across Malta.

There is also an example of a limestone tomb.

Then you go into the garden where orange, lemon, olive and pomegranate trees are grown – citrus groves are commonly planted in disused quarries as they are a sun trap. The petting area has goats and 2 donkeys and there are birds such as peacocks.

Inside the building is a museum with a large display of masonry tools, for sawing and splitting the stone.

And of course there is a souvenir shop at the end of the tour!

---

© Liz Price
No reproduction without permission