29th International Cave Bear Symposium

Dear Cave Bear Friends,

in 2024 we will meet at the SPELEON, Centre of subterranean heritage in Rakovica, Croatia.

Barac Caves were among the first caves in Croatia open for visitors back in 1892. The data gathered by the first explorers (prof. Mijo Kišpatić) before opening, suggested that caves had also been visited by many Ice Age animals, coming here to hibernate, grow offsprings, or simply to peacefully eat prey. Today we know that the Barać Caves hide a large number of Pleistocene fauna fossiled bones, as well as at least 48,000-year-old traces of modern humans, and Neanderthals. The first scientific research is launched in 2013 when valuable archaeological and paleontological findings have been discovered. A year before, the project called Plitvice Valleys (Plitvičke doline) had kicked off, with a part of it exploring the Barać Caves and its heritage.

The idea was to establish a small museum named The House of Caves. However, later research resulted in much greater archaeological and paleontological findings, so the initial idea became „too tight“. That is how the idea of the Speleon Centre came to life.

On Friday 27th September will be the day for presentation. On Sunday 28th September there will be an excursion into the Barac Caves and to Plitvice Lakes.

You fill find all additional information in the first circular at: https://www.eurospeleo.eu/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/ICBS2024_First_Circular.pdf