Sionnach geal

Lemming geal

Broc

Famhalan bruaiche

Mathan donn

Dallag fheòir

Tha na ceithir uamhan chnàmhan ann an Tèarmann Nàdair Innis nan Damh a' coimhead gu tuath

bho bhonn Creag nan Uamh a-null thar gleann Allt nan Cnàmh. Tha Creag nan Uamh air a dèanamh de

chloich-aoil. Aig ceann a' ghlinne chithear seann àitichean breith nan rèin-fhiadh air leòidean Bhreabaig.

Tha trannsa cumhang a' ceangal Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh agus Uamh nan Cnàmhan agus gheibh clann air a dhol

troimhe air am màgaran.

Tha na h-uamhan a' toirt dhuinn sealladh gun shamhail air na beathaichean a bha an seo thar nan 45,000

bliadhna mu dheireadh. Eadar am mathan bàn agus lioncs a' chinn a tuath, tha iomadh beathach eadar-

dhealaichte air làrach fhàgail ann an Uamhan nan Cnàmhan. Thig còmhla rinn air turas inntinneach gus beagan

fhaighinn a-mach mun eachdraidh aca.

These four north facing Bone Caves of the Inchnadamph National Nature

Reserve look out from the base of the limestone Creag nan Uamh over the

Allt nan Uamh glen. At the head of the glen, the ancient calving grounds

of the reindeer are seen on the slopes of Breabag.

Reindeer Cave and Bone Cave are connected by a narrow

passage which children can crawl through.

The caves give us a unique glimpse back in time revealing

what animals lived here during the last 45,000 years. From

arctic polar bears and northern lynx, many different

animals have left their mark on the Bone Caves of Creag

nan Uamh. Join us on a journey to explore their fascinating

history.

The Inchnadamph Bone CavesUamhan nan Cnàmhan, Innis nan Damh

Scottish Natural HeritageNorth Highland Area17 Pulteney StreetULLAPOOL Wester RossIV26 2UPt: 01854 613418f: 01854 613419

Dualchas Nàdair na h-AlbaSgire Creann a Tuath

na Gaidhealtachd17 Sràid Pholtananaidh

ULAPUL IV26 2UP

fon: 01854 613418facs: 01854 613419

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Gu Innis nan Damh1.5 mìle

Gu Ceangal an Leathaid Mhòir 2.5 mìle

Pàirc Chàraichean

Beinn nanCnàimhseag

568

UAMHAN

Crò-chaorach

Àirighean

Ionad Àlaich an Èisg

Fuaran Allt nan UamhAl l t nan Uamh

Eas

N

W E

The significance of the Bone Caves is recognised by their

designation as an Ancient Monument by Historic

Scotland and as a Site of Special Scientific Interest by

Scottish Natural Heritage. Please respect this

important site.

Tha Uamhan nan Cnàmh air an ainmeachadh le Alba

Eachdraidheil mar Làrach Eachdraidheil agus le

Dualchas Nàdair na h-Alba mar Ionad de Shuim

Shònraichte Shaidheansail, airson cho cudromach agus

a tha iad. Measaibh iad prìseil.

PPhhoottooggrraapphhyy//DDeeaallbbhhaann Lorne Gill/SNH, Neil McIntyre, Laurie Campbell, Alan Ross, Pete Cairns, DavidBell/ECOS, Bryan & Cherry Alexander Photography, Jan Breckenridge, British Geological Survey © NERC.

Bone fragment photographs/Dealbhan phìosan de chàmhan © The Trustees of the National Museums of Scotland

TTeexxtt//TTeeaaccss Clare BelshawAA’’ GGhhààiiddhhlliigg le Catriona Moireach

MMaappss//MMaappaaiicchheeaann Wendy Price CartographicsDDeessiiggnn//DDeeiilliibbhh Eleanor Meikle & Kelly Stuart (SNH)

CCoommppiilleedd bbyy//AAiirr aa cchhuurr rrii cchhèèiillee llee Alex Scott/John Charity (SNH)ISBN 1 85397 414 5

JTCP5k0808 Printed on environmentally friendly paperClò-bhuailte air pàipear a tha taiceil dhan àrainneachd

Barnacle goose

Chaffinch

Common scoter

Eider duck

Golden plover

Grey plover

Little auk

Long tailed duck

Mallard

Mute swan

Ptarmigan

Puffin

Red grouse

Teal

Tufted duck

Wigeon

Cathan

Breacan-beithe

Lach bheag dhubh

Lach mhòr

Feadag bhuidhe

Feadag ghlas

Colcach bheag

Lach bhinn

Tunnag fhiadhaich

Eala bhàn

Tàrmachan

Buthaid

Cearc fhraoich

Lach bheag

Lach sgumanach

Glas-lach

Liosta de ghnèathan air an claradh à cladhaich aig Uamhan nan Cnàmhan (air a cur ri chèile le Tim Lawson ann an 1996)

Arctic fox

Arctic or Collared lemming

Badger

Bank vole

Brown bear

Common shrew

Field vole (identification not confirmed)

Hare

Northern lynx

Northern vole (identification not confirmed)

Otter

Ox

Pig

Polar bear

Rabbit

Famhalan feòir (dearbhadh neo-dhaingnichte)

Geàrr

Lioncs Tuathach

Famhalan Tuathach (dearbhadh neo-dhaingnichte)

Biast dhubh

Damh

Muc

Mathan bàn

Coineanach

List of Species recorded from excavations at the Bone Caves (compiled by Tim Lawson in 1996)

Rat vole

Reindeer

Stoat

Tundra vole

Water vole

Weasel

Wild cat

Wolf

Wood mouse

MammalsMamailean

Birds Eòin

FishFrog

Natterjack toad(this is from an old record but the

material is not available to check) Salmon or trout

ToadMan (two separate sets of remains)

Others

IasgLosgannMuile-mhàg an druim bhuidhe('s ann às seann chùnntas a tha seo,

ach chan eil an stuth ri fhaotainn gusdearbhadh a dhèanamh)

Bradan no breacMuile-mhàg

Duine (dà dhust eadar-dhealaichte)

Fox's Den

Saobhaidh Sionnaich

BoneCave

Uamh nan Cnàmhan

Reindeer Cave

Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh

Badger Cave

Uamh nam Broc

Inchnadamph© Wendy Price Cartographic Services

Innis nan Damh

INVERNESSINBHIR NIS© Wendy Price Cartographic Services

Innis nan Damh Loch an Inbhir

Ulapul

INBHIR NIS

Innis nan Damh

Geàrrloch

INVERNESS

i

TThhee BBoonnee CCaavveess aarree ssiittuuaatteedd 44kkmm//22 mmiilleess ssoouutthh ooff IInncchhnnaaddaammpphh oonn tthhee AA883377..

TThhaa UUaammhhaann nnaann CCnnààmmhhaann 44 cciilliimmeeaattaaiirr//22 mmhhììllee ddeeaassaaiirr IInnnniiss nnaann DDaammhh aaiirr aann AA883377..

There is a good 2km/1 mile path from the car park at the fish hatchery to the Bone Caves but itdoes go over some rough and steep ground so please take care at all times. Similarly, though thecaves' entrance chambers may be examined standing up, care should be taken at the rear ofReindeer Cave where it drops down to a crawl way.

Tha ceum math 2 chilimeatair/mìle a dh'fhaid a' dol bho phàirc nan càraichean aig ionad-àlaichan èisg gu Uamhan nan Cnàmhan ach tha e caran garbh is cas ann an cuid de dh'àiticheanagus feumaidh duine a bhith faiceallach fad na h-ùine. Cuideachd, faodaidh duine na sheasamhsùil a thoirt air beul nan uamhan ach bi faiceallach aig cùl Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh far am feum thua dhol air do mhàgaran.

Fron

t cov

er: I

nchn

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ph B

one

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es/U

amha

n na

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nàm

han,

Lyn

x/Lio

ncs,

Lyn

x sk

ull/

Cla

igea

nn L

ionc

s

B o n e C a v e s

Working with Scotland's people to care for our natural heritage

Ag obair còmhla ri muinntir Alba airson ar dualchas nàdarra a ghleidheadh

Back

cov

er: M

odel

of P

olar

Bea

r Sku

ll/Sa

mha

il C

laig

eann

Mat

han

Bàn

Innis nan DamhU a m h a n n a n C n à m h a n

Famhalan radain

Rèin-fhiadh

Neas

Famhalan tundra

Famhalan uisge

Neas bheag

Cat fiadhaich

Madadh allaidh

Luch choille

Eile

64763 BoneCaves.qxp 8/9/08 15:10 Page 1

A lonely lynxPerhaps the most exciting find was the skull of a Northern Lynx dated at around

1,770 years old, which was found at the back of the inner cave in 1927. This is

the only Northern Lynx site in Scotland. How did it get there? There was probably

a gap in the roof of the cave and the lynx could have crawled in and died or been

dragged there by another animal. Bones of arctic lemming, arctic fox, wolf and

brown bear were also found.

Lioncs aonaranach'S dòcha gur e an rud a b'inntinniche a chaidh a lorg claigeann Lioncs a' Chinn a

Tuath. Chaidh aois 1,770 bliadhna a chur air an seo. Chaidh a lorg aig cùl na

h-uamha a b'fhaide a-staigh ann an 1927. Seo an aon làrach ann an Alba as

aithne dhuinn san robh Lioncs a' Chinn a Tuath. Bha claigeann an lioncs ri cùl na

h-uamha as fhaide a-staigh. Ciamar a fhuair e ann? 'S iongantach mura robh

beàrn ann am mullach na h-uamha agus dh'fhaodadh an lioncs a bhith air snàigeil

a-steach agus bàsachadh no dh'fhaodadh gur e beathach eile a shlaod ann e.

Chaidh cnàmhan bho leaman an t-sneachda, sionnach an t-sneachda,

madadh-allaidh agus mathan donn a lorg cuideachd.

Mathain Bhàna ann an Alba?Chaidh rud inntinneach eile a lorg agus tha h-uile coltas gur e mathan bàn a

bh'ann! Fhuaradh seo a-mach ann an 1927 nuair a chaidh sgrùdadh às ùr a

dhèanamh. Chaidh aois 18,855 bliadhna a chur air an seo. Feumaidh sinn

cuimhneachadh ge tà gum faodadh beathaichean eile a bhith air

closach a' mhathain bhàin agus sligean bhàirneach a

shlaodadh ann à àite gu math fada air falbh.

Tha cnàmahn nam beathaichean gu

lèir cudromach ann an Alba oir 's e

seo na beathaichean as slàine a

bhuineas do mheadhan agus do

dheireadh na Linn Devensianaich (an linn deighe mu

dheireadh) a chaidh a lorg ann an Alba. Tha

luchd-sgrùdaidh an-dràsta dhen bheachd gun deach

an sgoladh a-steach le uisge-deighe a bha a'

leaghadh. Chan eil fianais sam bith againn air

daoine bhith a' fuireach sna h-uamhan, ged a

dh'fhaodadh gun robh iad gan cleachdadh nuair a bha iad a' sealg. Ach bidh e

coltach gur e beathaichean bu mhotha a bha gan cleachdadh.

Tha dìomhaireachd fhathast co-cheangailte ri na h-uamhan, agus chan fhaigh sinn

fuasgladh ach le tuilleadh rannsachaidh a dhèanamh air an fhuigheall a tha air

fhàgail. Chan eil plana sam bith san amharc an-dràsta airson tuilleadh

a chladhach oir tha e cho daor cladhach dòigheil airceòlais a chur air chois. Tha

e air iarraidh air luchd-tadhail gun a' ghrùid air an làraich a mhilleadh. Tha

claiginn an lioncs agus a' mhathain bhàin agus

cròicean rein-fhèidh ann an taisbeanadh ann an

Taigh-tasgaidh na h-Alba ann an Dùn

Eideann fad na h-ùine. Tha cumaidhean

de chuid dhen stuth rim faicinn ann an

Ionad Luchd-turais Asainte ann an Loch an

Inbhir.

Hyenas andHipposThe last Ice Age, known as the Quaternary, lasted for about 2 million years, with

cycles of ice building up then melting every 100,000 years or so. We are in an

interglacial now, and the last interglacial was around 125,000 years ago. At that

time Britain would have been covered in trees and it was warm enough for hyena

and hippopotamus. We haven't found any remains of animals from this period in

the Creag nan Uamh caves.

Around 115,000 years ago the climate became colder and drier and the vegetation

changed to tundra. The tundra was grazed by reindeer 40,000 years ago and they

were hunted by bear and wolves. Around 25,000 years ago it became colder and

wetter again and glaciers started to build up until 18,000 years ago when the ice

retreated again. By 13,000 years ago the ice had gone, although it came back

briefly 11,000 years ago for around 1000 years.

Haidhena agus Each-aibhneMhair an Linn Deighe mu dheireadh, ris an canar an Quaternary, mu 2 mhillean

bliadhna le cuairtean de dheigh a' cruinneachadh agus an uair sin a' leaghadh a

h-uile 100,000 bliadhna no mar sin. Tha sinn eadar linntean deighe an-dràsta.

'S ann o chionn 125,000 bliadhna a thachair seo mu dheireadh. Bhiodh Breatainn

air a chòmhdach le craobhan aig an àm sin agus bha e blàth gu leòr airson

haidhena agus each-aibhne a bhith ann! Cha do lorg sinn fuigheall

bheathaichean on àm seo sna h-uamhan aig Creag nan Uamh.

O chionn 115, 000 bliadhna dh'fhàs a' ghnàth-shìde fuar agus tioram agus

dh'atharraich na bha a' fàs gu tundra. O chionn 40,000 bliadhna bha rein-fhèidh

ag ionaltradh air an tundra. Bhiodh madaidhean allaidh agus mathain gan sealg.

Dh'fhàs i na b'fhuaire agus na bu fhliche a-rithist o chionn 25,000 bliadhna.

Chum na h-eigh-shruthan a' cruinneachadh gu chionn 18,000 bliadhna. Thòisich

an uair sin an deigh a' dol air ais mean air mhean. O chionn 13,000 bliadhna,

bha an deigh air leaghadh ged a thill i greiseag airson timcheall air 1,000

bliadhna o chionn 11,000 bliadhna.

An ice-carved landscape

Massive glaciers would have carved out the

Traligill and Allt nan Uamh glens. The cave systems

would have started to be formed more than 200,000 year ago when the water-

resistant schist had been eroded from above the softer limestone. Water then

began to drain into the limestone, dissolving the rock and causing the cracks in the

rock to widen and form cave systems. Today there are 13 caves in the Allt nan

Uamh glen and 19 in the Traligill Basin.

At this time the glen floor would have been at the level of the Cnoc an Uamh and

Creag nan Uamh caves. When the glaciers lowered the levels of the glen, the

Bone Caves were left where we find them today - high and dry.

Exploration is continuing today through this cave system and perhaps one day we

will know the full story of how they were formed and who or what lived in them.

An tìr fo eigh-shruthanBhiodh eigh-shruthan mòra, uabhasach air na glinn ann an Trailigill agus Allt nan

Uamh a chruthachadh. 'S ann o chionn 200,000 bliadhna a thòisicheadh na

h-uamhan gan cruthachadh nuair a chaidh an schist neo-dhrùidhteach a bhleith far

na cloich-aoil a bha na bu bhuige. Thòisich uisge an uair sin a' sruthadh dhan

chloich-aoil agus bha seo a' leaghadh na creige agus a' dèanamh sgoltaidhean

sa chreig nas leatha agus a' cruthachadh nan uamhan.

Aig an àm seo, bhiodh bonn a' ghlinne mun aon ìre àirde ri uamhan Chnoc nan

Uamh agus Chreag nan Uamh. An dèidh dha na h-eigh-shruthan àirde a' ghlinne

ìsleachadh, chaidh Uamhan nan Cnàmhan fhàgail tioram gu h-àrd far a bheil iad

an-diugh.

Tha rannsachadh a'dol air adhart fhathast anns na h-uamhan. 'S dòcha gun tig an

latha uaireigin a bhios fios againn air a h-uile càil mu dheidhinn ciamar a chaidh

an cruthachadh agus cò no dè a bha a' fuireach annta.

Our wooded pastMore recently remains of red and roe deer, rabbit, badger, red and black grouse

and even pine marten have been found in Connecting Passage. These suggest that

around 4200 years ago, after the last Ice Age, the area was wooded. Perhaps

the Allt nan Uamh glen was full of birch and willow 4500 years ago. Certainly

there are remnant trees growing on the steep sides of swallow holes - areas where

the ground has collapsed into an underground channel.

Coilltean san linn a dh'fhalbhOn uair sin, chaidh fuigheall bheathaichean a lorg san Trannsa Ceangail. Nam

measg bha earb, coineanach, broc, cearc-fhraoich ruadh agus tè dhubh agus fiù

's taghan. Bidh e coltach, mar sin, gun robh beathaichean coille an seo o chionn

4,200 bliadhna, an dèidh Linn na Deighe. 'S dòcha gun robh gleann Allt nan

Uamh làn chraobhan beithe is seilich o chionn 4,500 bliadhna. Tha fhathast

beagan chraobhan air fhàgail air cliathaichean casa nan lagan far a bheil an ùir

air tuiteam ann an tunail fon talamh.

Polar bears in Scotland?Another interesting find is that of a probable Polar bear. This was discovered when

the 1927 remains were recently re-evaluated. It has been aged at around 18,855

years old. We must remember, though, that the bones of Polar bear and limpet

shells could have been dragged in by other animals from a distance.

All of the animal bones are important in Scotland, because they are the most

complete record of the last glacial period (the Middle and Late Devensian) found

in Scotland. Researchers think that the bones were washed in by meltwater from

the glaciers that covered Scotland at that time. There is no evidence that people

lived in the caves, although they may well have been used for hunting trips. They

seem mostly to have been used by animals.

There is still a cloak of mystery around the caves, and we will only find the answer

by exploring the remains further. There are no plans at the moment for more

digging as it is hugely expensive to mount a proper archaeological dig. In the

meantime, we ask you not to damage the deposits on site. The lynx and polar bear

skulls and some reindeer antlers are on permanent display in the Museum of

Scotland in Edinburgh. Casts of some of the material are on display in the Assynt

Visitor Centre in Lochinver.

Ceumannan ann an eachdraidhNuair a ghabhas tu an ceum cas, lùbach gu uamhan nan cnàmhan, tha thu

a' gabhail ceum còmhla ris an luchd-rannsachaidh as fheàrr a tha againn.

A rèir aithris, nuair a bha Ben Peach ag obair san Iar Thuath, bhiodh e ag

obair anmoch ach bhiodh e a' gabhail latha dheth às gach trì airson a

dhol a dh'iasgach. 'S dòcha nach deach leis ro mhath oir chan eil

lochan idir ann an gleann Allt nan Uamh; cha mhòr gu bheil

abhainn fhèin ann ach lorg Peach agus Horne, na

geòlaichean ainmeil, rud a bha pailt cho

cudromach.

Nuair a bha iad a' sgrùdadh geòlas na sgìre,

feumaidh gun tàinig iad thairis air uamhan

nan cnàmhan aig Creag nan Uamh agus,

ann an 1889, rinn iad na h-uiread de

chladhach aig beul tè aca agus lorg iad

pìosan de chnàmhan bheathaicheanIn the footsteps of history

When you follow the steep and winding path to the bone caves, you are treading in the footsteps of

some of our best known explorers.

It is said of Ben Peach that, when working in the Northwest, he would work long hours, but would take

every third day off and go fishing. He may not have had much luck, because there are no lochs up the glen

of Allt nan Uamh, and not much in the way of rivers either, but world-famous geologists Peach and Horne found

something just as rewarding.

While surveying the geology of the area, they must have come across the Creag nan Uamh bone caves and in

1889 they partially excavated the mouth of one of them and found pieces of animal bones.

Bear bonesDuring a visit in 1925, another well-known geologist, J E Cree,

found the incisor tooth of a bear and two pieces of reindeer

antler in one of the other caves. He returned the next year

with his colleagues Callandar and Ritchie to

excavate the caves we now know as Badger

Cave and Reindeer Cave.

This excavation was more thorough than

Peach and Horne's 1889 dig. They found

pieces of frog, land snails and the lower jaw

of a wildcat. Later tests with smoke proved that

Bear Cave was connected to Reindeer cave, but

there is no passageway to link the caves today.

Adhlacaidhean Chaidh na rudan a b'inntinniche a lorg ann an Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh agus nam measg bha cuid de

na bha air fhàgail de dhaoine. Chaidh claigeann duine, às aonais nan giallan, a lorg air làrach le

balla cloiche timcheall air. Bidh e coltach gun robh e air a thìodhlacadh an seo. Chaidh

tìodhlacadh eile a lorg ann an sgoltadh cumhang aig cùl

na h-uamha. Bha na cnàmhan seo ann an dùn le glè

bheag de dh'ùir na h-uamha air an uachdar. Chuir

deiteadh reidiocarbon cnàmhan ceathrar dhaoine eadar

4,515 agus 4,720 air ais. Bha rudeigin ann air a

dhèanamh à cròic fèidh a bha 850 bliadhna a dh'aois.

Chaidh faisg air 1000 pìos de chròicean rèin-fhèidh a

lorg a tha 47,000, 25,000, 23,000 agus 8,300 bliadhna

a dh'aois. Thàinig na cròicean o rein-fhèidh bhoireann agus o

fheadhainn òga, fhireann. Mar sin, dh'fhaodadh gur ann air na

leòidean aig ceann a' ghlinne a bhiodh iad a' breith.

Ancestral burialsThe most exciting finds were found in Reindeer cave, including the

first human remains. A human skull, with both upper and lower

jaws missing was found in a small stone enclosure, which

suggests a burial. A second burial was found in the narrow

crack at the back of the cave. These bones were found in a

confused heap, lightly covered with cave earth. Bones of four

people have been radiocarbon dated to between 4515 and

4720 years old. An object made from red deer antler has

been dated as 850 years old.

Nearly 1000 fragments of reindeer antler have been found and

these have been aged at 47,000, 25,000, 23,000 and 8,300

years old. The antlers were from female and young male reindeer,

which suggest that the slopes at the head of the glen might have been

their calving grounds.

Cnàmhan mathainLorg J.E. Cree, geòlaiche ainmeil eile, clàr-fhiacaill

mathain agus dà phìos de chròic rèin-fhiadh ann an

tè de na h-uamhan eile ann an 1925. Thill e còmhla ri

Callander is Ritchie, a bha ag obair còmhla ris,

a' bhliadhna an dèidh sin, agus chladhaich iad na

h-uamhan ris an canar an-diugh Uamh nam Broc agus

Uamh nan Rèin-fhiadh.

Bha a' chladhach seo nas mionaidiche na a'

chladhach a rinn Peach agus Horne ann an 1889.

Lorg iad pìosan de losgainn is de sheilcheagan

tìre agus cuideachd giall ìseal cat fiadhaich.

An dèidh sin, dhearbh deuchainn le toit gun

robh Uamh a' Mhathain ceangailte ri Uamh

nan Rèin-fhiadh ach chan eil trannsa a'

ceangal nan uamhan a-nis.

Lynx Lioncs

Reindeer Rèin-fhiadh

Wolf Madadh allaidh

Polar bear Mathan bàn

Fuaran Allt nan Uamh

Mountain avens Machall-monaidh

Lynx skull Claigeann lioncs

Reindeer antler fragments Pìosan cròic rèin-fhiadh

Polar bear cranium Claigeann mathan bàn

Lemming lower jaw Carbad ìseal lemming

64763 BoneCaves.qxp 20/8/08 02:11 Page 2