Luobi Cave
Encyclopedia
Luobi Cave is a karst
cave under the west face of Yin Ridge (印岭) located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north east of Lizhigou Town (荔枝沟镇), 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Sanya
City, Hainan
Province, People's Republic of China.
s hang down from the roof like large pens, hence the cave's name.
(1271–1368). One of these refers to the precise date of 1283 CE. Luobi Cave is later mentioned in Ming Dynasty
records for Hainan (琼台志) compiled at the time of the Zhengde Emperor
(r. 1505–1525 CE) which note the cave's stalactites and their unending flow of water.
techniques show that the finds are from the late Upper Paleolithic
era around 10,000 years ago and represent the earliest evidence of human activity in Hainan as well as the southernmost occurrence of stone tools from this period. Very few fossilised fish bones were discovered at the Luobi site, indicating that the inhabitants of the cave had yet to master the skill of fishing. The few fish they did obtain were probably found in rocky pools along the coast having been swept ashore.
Since 2001 the Luobi Cave has been a national protected cultural site.
Immortals
. The smaller Xianlang Cave (仙朗洞) nearby is claimed to have been the home of female immortal who descended from heaven and married a man from the local Li minority
.
KARST
Kilometer-square Area Radio Synthesis Telescope is a Chinese telescope project to which FAST is a forerunner. KARST is a set of large spherical reflectors on karst landforms, which are bowlshaped limestone sinkholes named after the Kras region in Slovenia and Northern Italy. It will consist of...
cave under the west face of Yin Ridge (印岭) located 7 kilometres (4.3 mi) north east of Lizhigou Town (荔枝沟镇), 15 kilometres (9.3 mi) from Sanya
Sanya
Sanya is the southernmost city in China and is a part of Hainan Province. In 2006, it had a population of 536,000, making it, after the provincial capital , the second most populous city on the island. The city is renowned for its tropical climate and has emerged as a popular tourist destination,...
City, Hainan
Hainan
Hainan is the smallest province of the People's Republic of China . Although the province comprises some two hundred islands scattered among three archipelagos off the southern coast, of its land mass is Hainan Island , from which the province takes its name...
Province, People's Republic of China.
Features
The entrance to the cave is approximately 12 metres (39.4 ft) high and 9 metres (29.5 ft) wide. Inside the apex reaches a height of 18 metres (59.1 ft) with a floor area of about 140 square metres (167.4 sq yd) Two large stalactiteStalactite
A stalactite , "to drip", and meaning "that which drips") is a type of speleothem that hangs from the ceiling of limestone caves. It is a type of dripstone...
s hang down from the roof like large pens, hence the cave's name.
History
A number of inscriptions carved into the walls of the cave are believed to date to the Yuan DynastyYuan Dynasty
The Yuan Dynasty , or Great Yuan Empire was a ruling dynasty founded by the Mongol leader Kublai Khan, who ruled most of present-day China, all of modern Mongolia and its surrounding areas, lasting officially from 1271 to 1368. It is considered both as a division of the Mongol Empire and as an...
(1271–1368). One of these refers to the precise date of 1283 CE. Luobi Cave is later mentioned in Ming Dynasty
Ming Dynasty
The Ming Dynasty, also Empire of the Great Ming, was the ruling dynasty of China from 1368 to 1644, following the collapse of the Mongol-led Yuan Dynasty. The Ming, "one of the greatest eras of orderly government and social stability in human history", was the last dynasty in China ruled by ethnic...
records for Hainan (琼台志) compiled at the time of the Zhengde Emperor
Zhengde Emperor
The Zhengde Emperor was emperor of China between 1505-1521. Born Zhu Houzhao, he was the Hongzhi Emperor's eldest son...
(r. 1505–1525 CE) which note the cave's stalactites and their unending flow of water.
Archaeological finds
Between 1992 and 1993, archaeologists carried out a comprehensive excavation and survey of the Luobi Cave over an area of 70 square metres (83.7 sq yd). They discovered eight fossilised human teeth, stone and bone tools, as well as several hundred fossilised animal bones, more than 70,000 sea shells and evidence of ancient fires. Radiocarbon datingRadiocarbon dating
Radiocarbon dating is a radiometric dating method that uses the naturally occurring radioisotope carbon-14 to estimate the age of carbon-bearing materials up to about 58,000 to 62,000 years. Raw, i.e. uncalibrated, radiocarbon ages are usually reported in radiocarbon years "Before Present" ,...
techniques show that the finds are from the late Upper Paleolithic
Upper Paleolithic
The Upper Paleolithic is the third and last subdivision of the Paleolithic or Old Stone Age as it is understood in Europe, Africa and Asia. Very broadly it dates to between 40,000 and 10,000 years ago, roughly coinciding with the appearance of behavioral modernity and before the advent of...
era around 10,000 years ago and represent the earliest evidence of human activity in Hainan as well as the southernmost occurrence of stone tools from this period. Very few fossilised fish bones were discovered at the Luobi site, indicating that the inhabitants of the cave had yet to master the skill of fishing. The few fish they did obtain were probably found in rocky pools along the coast having been swept ashore.
Since 2001 the Luobi Cave has been a national protected cultural site.
Folklore
According to legend, anyone coming into contact with water dripping from Luobi Cave's stalactities will become a talented writer whilst a number of large flat rocks scattered across the floor of the cave are said to be inkstones once used by TaoistTaoism
Taoism refers to a philosophical or religious tradition in which the basic concept is to establish harmony with the Tao , which is the mechanism of everything that exists...
Immortals
Eight Immortals
The Eight Immortals are a group of legendary xian in Chinese mythology. Each Immortal's power can be transferred to a power tool that can give life or destroy evil. Together, these eight tools are called "Covert Eight Immortals" . Most of them are said to have been born in the Tang Dynasty or...
. The smaller Xianlang Cave (仙朗洞) nearby is claimed to have been the home of female immortal who descended from heaven and married a man from the local Li minority
Li people
The Li or Hlai are a minority ethnic group, the vast majority of whom live off the southern coast of mainland China on Hainan Island, where they are the largest minority ethnic group...
.