Mosses clinging to the entrance hints at the secrets within. Right here we stand before the Z\u00f6ld-barlang. Its name whispers of green. This cave is small but significant. It is one of Hungary’s specially protected caves.
The Z\u00f6ld-barlang is located in the Duna-Ipoly National Park. It lies on the eastern side of Nagy-Kev\u00e9ly. The cave has two entrances. They are about 10 meters apart. The lower entrance is near a tourist path. It sits about 40 meters from the path.
Imagine journeying back to prehistoric times. The Z\u00f6ld-barlang has yielded K\u0151r\u00e9zkori artifacts. Bronze Age relics have also been found. Roman and \u00c1rp\u00e1d-era treasures add to its allure. Even Celtic artifacts have been discovered. Bones whisper tales of past inhabitants. Both human and animal remains emerged from within.
Think of the people who sought shelter here. Imagine their lives unfolding within this very space. Brown bears roamed outside. Deer grazed nearby. Evidence suggests they cooked meals within the Z\u00f6ld-barlang. Animal bones bear cut marks.
Its name comes from mosses on the upper entrance walls. In 1958, the name Z\u00f6ld-barlang appeared in literature. Le\u00e9l-u0150ssy S\u00e1ndor first used it in a publication. Before that, people called it Z\u00f6ld barlang and Z\u00f6ldlyuk-barlang.
L\u00e1szl\u00f3 Sch\u0151nviszky marked the path to the cave in the 1930s. He marked a tree trunk near the tourist path. A survey by \u00c9zsi\u00e1s Gy\u00f6rgy mentions Sch\u0151nviszky’s study from 1937. But the publication likely referred to Gyop\u00e1ros-barlang. A 1955 guidebook says the cave is near a path on Nagy-Kev\u00e9ly’s northern slope. It is called Z\u00f6ldbarlang due to the green moss.
Explorers from the Szab\u00f3 J\u00f3zsef Geological Technical School explored here in 1965. In 1967, Kordos L\u00e1szl\u00f3 and P\u00e9k P\u00e9ter surveyed it. They created detailed maps. The maps included floor plans and cross-sections of the Z\u00f6ld-barlang.
Today the Z\u00f6ld-barlang remains unsealed. Basic caving gear is recommended for visitors. You can explore it without any permit. The archaeological site has the identifier number 32539. Excavations in 2001 and 2002 unearthed pottery shards. They also discovered a copper-era obsidian blade. Bronze Age fragments and Roman-era ceramics came to light. A Celtic iron spearhead was found too. An ancient bronze plate of unknown use was recovered. Animal bones included those of bears deer and even cats.
So enter the Z\u00f6ld-barlang to explore a natural wonder. Discover its ancient secrets. Respect its fragile beauty. Let its stories linger long after you leave.