The first citation on caves in Sardinia dates back to 1580 when Johannis Francisci Farae mentions some famous caves such as Grotta Verde (Alghero), Grotta San Giovanni (Domusnovas) and the Su Gologone spring (Oliena). Sixty years have to pass before another author, Salvatorem Vitalem Marenses (1639) mentions the Ucca ‘e Bobois cave (Ussassai), and thirty-four years later Jorge Aleo (1673) describes the archaeological cave of Bonaria (Cagliari). During the XVIIIth century only two authors, Francesco Cetti (1771) and Giuseppe Cossu (1799), mention some minor caves for their faunistic (sea-birds) and geographical interest respectively. In the XIXth century many travellers discover the Island and give descriptions of the most famous caves, especially the Nettuno cave near Alghero. The most interesting speleological observations and descriptions are given by Alberto La Marmora (1826 and 1860) and Vittorio Angius (1833-1856, in Goffredo Casalis). The first publication on cave dwelling fauna dates back to 1872 when Fairmaire describes the first troglobe species collected by Raffaello Gestro the year before in Su Marmuri cave (Ulassai). Important archaeological excavations and discoveries occur towards the end of the century, Giovanni Spano in Sa Rocca Ulari cave, Borutta (1873), Francesco Orsoni in Sant’Elia and San Bartolomeo caves, Cagliari (1876), Arturo Issel, Leon Gouin and A. Baux in s’Oreri cave, Fluminimaggiore (1884) and Filippo Vivanet at Genna Luas cave, Iglesias (1891). A couple of years later C.J. Forsyth Major starts studying paleontological materials discovered from caves at Capo Caccia (around 1900). During the next 35 years many papers written by archaeologists, palaeoanthropologists, biologists or geologists recall several caves for their scientific interest, but the first real speleological contribution, containing a list of 94 caves, is given by Carmelo Maxia in 1936. World War II inhibits the development of real speleological activities until the constitution of the first caving associations in the early 50’s (Alghero, Cagliari, Nuoro). In 1955 the National Speleological Congress takes place in Sardinia bringing a strong impulse on caving activities on the Island. The results of these pioneer explorations is resumed in a book written by Antonio Furreddu and Carlo Maxia (1964) that becomes the “bible” for the next generation of Sardinian speleologists. During the following years results of caving explorations are published in Italian bulletins such as Rassegna Speleologica Italiana (Milan), Grotte (Torino) and Sottoterra (Bologna) until the appearance of Speleologia Sarda, the first caving journal of Sardinia published for 18 years by the Gruppo Speleologico PIO XI of Cagliari (1972-1990). Other important caving journals are founded in 1974 (Gruttas e Nurras, Gruppo Grotte Nuorese), 1975 (Bollettino del Gruppo Speleologico Sassarese), 1984 (Anthèo, Gruppo Speleo-Archeologico Giovanni Spano) and 1992 (Sardegna Speleologica, Sardinian Federation of Speleologists). Since 1995 all bibliographical data on Sardinian caves are inserted in a database (Access) and thanks to the collaboration with four cavers (Guido Bartolo, Giuseppe Grafitti, Mauro Mucedda and Mauro Villani) this database is integrated and completed comprising everything published in the interval 1580-2003.
De Waele J. (2008). The speleological bibliography of Sardinia (Italy).. ATHENS : Hellenic Speleological Society.
The speleological bibliography of Sardinia (Italy).
DE WAELE, JO HILAIRE AGNES
2008
Abstract
The first citation on caves in Sardinia dates back to 1580 when Johannis Francisci Farae mentions some famous caves such as Grotta Verde (Alghero), Grotta San Giovanni (Domusnovas) and the Su Gologone spring (Oliena). Sixty years have to pass before another author, Salvatorem Vitalem Marenses (1639) mentions the Ucca ‘e Bobois cave (Ussassai), and thirty-four years later Jorge Aleo (1673) describes the archaeological cave of Bonaria (Cagliari). During the XVIIIth century only two authors, Francesco Cetti (1771) and Giuseppe Cossu (1799), mention some minor caves for their faunistic (sea-birds) and geographical interest respectively. In the XIXth century many travellers discover the Island and give descriptions of the most famous caves, especially the Nettuno cave near Alghero. The most interesting speleological observations and descriptions are given by Alberto La Marmora (1826 and 1860) and Vittorio Angius (1833-1856, in Goffredo Casalis). The first publication on cave dwelling fauna dates back to 1872 when Fairmaire describes the first troglobe species collected by Raffaello Gestro the year before in Su Marmuri cave (Ulassai). Important archaeological excavations and discoveries occur towards the end of the century, Giovanni Spano in Sa Rocca Ulari cave, Borutta (1873), Francesco Orsoni in Sant’Elia and San Bartolomeo caves, Cagliari (1876), Arturo Issel, Leon Gouin and A. Baux in s’Oreri cave, Fluminimaggiore (1884) and Filippo Vivanet at Genna Luas cave, Iglesias (1891). A couple of years later C.J. Forsyth Major starts studying paleontological materials discovered from caves at Capo Caccia (around 1900). During the next 35 years many papers written by archaeologists, palaeoanthropologists, biologists or geologists recall several caves for their scientific interest, but the first real speleological contribution, containing a list of 94 caves, is given by Carmelo Maxia in 1936. World War II inhibits the development of real speleological activities until the constitution of the first caving associations in the early 50’s (Alghero, Cagliari, Nuoro). In 1955 the National Speleological Congress takes place in Sardinia bringing a strong impulse on caving activities on the Island. The results of these pioneer explorations is resumed in a book written by Antonio Furreddu and Carlo Maxia (1964) that becomes the “bible” for the next generation of Sardinian speleologists. During the following years results of caving explorations are published in Italian bulletins such as Rassegna Speleologica Italiana (Milan), Grotte (Torino) and Sottoterra (Bologna) until the appearance of Speleologia Sarda, the first caving journal of Sardinia published for 18 years by the Gruppo Speleologico PIO XI of Cagliari (1972-1990). Other important caving journals are founded in 1974 (Gruttas e Nurras, Gruppo Grotte Nuorese), 1975 (Bollettino del Gruppo Speleologico Sassarese), 1984 (Anthèo, Gruppo Speleo-Archeologico Giovanni Spano) and 1992 (Sardegna Speleologica, Sardinian Federation of Speleologists). Since 1995 all bibliographical data on Sardinian caves are inserted in a database (Access) and thanks to the collaboration with four cavers (Guido Bartolo, Giuseppe Grafitti, Mauro Mucedda and Mauro Villani) this database is integrated and completed comprising everything published in the interval 1580-2003.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.