Posted on 03/17/2005 12:53:55 AM PST by nickcarraway
SKELETONS in the closet were a real-life problem for Ashford Price when he opened a cupboard in his late aunt's bedroom to be confronted with dozens of human remains.
The grand Georgian townhouse in the stately sweep of Swansea's leafy St James's Crescent had hidden a secret for decades until its owner, Brenda Morgan, 84, passed away.
Police were immediately called after the discovery, but suspicions were dampened when it was noticed all the bones had been carefully cleaned and numbered.
The remains were in fact 42 human skeletons dating back over 3,000 years to the Bronze Age. They had been discovered at Dan yr Ogof caves by the Morgan family 80 years ago.
Now, in one of the most unusual ceremonies ever performed, the bones will be returned whence they came and reburied in "Bone Cave" tomorrow.
Mr Price, whose family own the show caves in the Swansea Valley, said, "My family have been here for yonks and in the 1920s and '30s they found the skeletons.
"But it was not apparent what had happened to many of them until 18 months ago, when my aunt, whose father helped discover the caves, passed away.
"There was an absolutely huge oak wardrobe in one of her bedrooms and inside I found these large packing cases.
"I got a colleague with me to help pull them out and found hundreds of bones. Of course I called the police.
"Happily they were part of the original cave dwellers' remains from Dan yr Ogof."
The skeletons were discovered after long archaeological excavations decades ago, but in 1940 during the war the caves were taken over by the Ministry of Defence.
They were used to store ammunition and art treasures for fear of Nazi invasion, but the skeletons were removed for safe keeping - then later assumed lost.
Ancient bones, Nazis and archaeology make for a tale that reads like something from an Indiana Jones film, and Mr Price admits that the circumstances are unusual.
"I do not think anything like this has happened before. We have had to be very careful with them and we have spent all winter looking for a suitable place to put them in the caves.
"They are the remains of our human ancestors after all, so we cannot really just dump them in a bucket and chuck them somewhere.
"It could not be too damp or too dry or the bones could be damaged; it took about seven months to find the best place."
It was felt that the Rev Alun Brookfield, vicar at nearby Abercrave for the past two years, should be asked to provide a simple ceremony appropriate to the pre-Christian spirituality of the cave dwellers as they are interred.
"I will offer an invitation to commend those who died to whatever gods they worshipped," said Mr Brookfield yesterday.
"And all people present will be able to contemplate this with whatever gods they worship."
He said he had no qualms performing such a ceremony as a Christian vicar.
"I have no problem with anything that encourages people to seek God," added Mr Brookfield.
"It is very unusual, though. Completely unique in my experience."
Some of the bones will remain visible to the public at Dan yr Ogof show caves after the reburial.
A maze of caves, narrow passageways and underground lakes THE cave through which the river Llynfell emerges at the base of the cliffs at Dan yr Ogof farm has always been known.
In 1912 Tommy and Jeff Morgan had the courage to explore the cave. They used only candles to light their way and arrows in the sand to find their way back.
They discovered a wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites, but they were prevented from penetrating far into the mountain by a lake.
Undeterred they returned, this time with coracles.
They crossed not one lake but four. They discovered more magnificent passages and chambers, but again the way on was denied them. This time it was a tight crawl.
This crawl was not passed until 1963 when Eileen Davies, a local girl and member of the South Wales Caving Club struggled through it.
She and others have now found over 10 miles of caves.
Cavers believe that this is the tip of the iceberg and that there is still much to discover.
And it seems the Bone Cave has been a shelter or home for man during many different periods of time. Items such as bone pins, pottery, coins, iron, bronze and silver rings have been found in the cave, as well as relics dated to the time when Roman legions were stationed in the area.
H.P. Lovecraft could have written that sentence.
Yonks?
Love Google!:
YONKS n. Quite simply, a long time. Not a specific length of time at all; it could be minutes or decades. Good examples would be "Where have you been? I've been waiting here for yonks!" or "Met a friend from school the other day who I haven't seen for yonks."
This story is a delight, and the cave exploration reads like some old Hardy Boys book. I love the eccentric nature of a family willing to store these skeletons in their closet all these years. This should be made into a movie.
No bones about it, send them back to the cave.
But it was bone-headed to not tell anyone after the war.
Please FREEPMAIL me if you want on, off, or alter the "Gods, Graves, Glyphs" PING list --
Archaeology/Anthropology/Ancient Cultures/Artifacts/Antiquities, etc.
The GGG Digest -- Gods, Graves, Glyphs (alpha order)
Theodore Roosevelt:
CHARGE!
:-)
Thanks Civ.
spelunking ping
I agree, they had to be a bunch of numbskulls. If I were involved, I'd have a bone to pick with those people, and they'd get more than a slap on the wrist. I wonder what kind of joint keeps skeletons in the closet for so long....I really kneed that kind of information and I'm not about to knuckle under.
Joe, I think you've put your finger on the pulse of the issue. At the wrist of offending any Socialist lurkers, I say there is too much government involvement in our livers. The government should leave these South Dakota voters alone, lest it become hemorrhoidal, an absolute pelvic nuisance. Isn't there anyone with the spine to stand up to these knuckleheads? Knees Louise! Skulls should roll! Tibia or not to be, that is kneet the question....it's an adenoiding decision....noggin to sneeze at...
Val, thanks for the rib. I mean ping.
Others may not be able to stomach these puns, but they're music to my ears. Elbow before any man so nimble with words.
(blush) Thanks. Your kudos fall favorably upon my earie canal, inspiring me to again put my shoulder to the plow, and really osteoporosis myself into my work, the work of my hands, which I regrettably cannot palm off on anyone else's back.
I am Divinely blessed with this ability, 'skull being me.
LOL.
*sigh* every staircase is San Juan hill...
Pride in a job well done is no shin, and it is always good to eyeball puns of such timeless quality in this efemural world. I've really got to give you a big hand for your truly impressive corpora of wordplay. You ought to consider writing a book, but I'll bet it would be so extensive it would cost an arm and a leg.
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