Recreating the Past … or at least the end!
Soon after entering Ingleborough Cave, visitors get to see a magnificent calcite pillar made up of no less than thirteen stalactites – or, more precisely, twelve-and-a-half stalactites as one is broken. The Pillar has never been formally dated but is estimated to be up to 15,000 years old and it is likely that the formation began shortly after the last ice age ended. As to how or when it was damaged, that is unknown – but it probably happened at some point during the 1950s. Thus when James Farrer and his intrepid team of explorers first entered the cave in 1837 the pillar would have been in perfect condition.
It is a perfect example of how nothing in cave formation happens very quickly. We are generally talking in fractions of millimetres per year. Sadly, something that takes thousands of years to grow can never mend itself once broken – even given more thousands of years. If a stalactite is damaged, the end (or lack of the end) is the end.
Or is it? Advances in technology and, most particularly, 3D printing, are now opening up exciting new possibilities when it comes to the restoration of certain cave formations.
Renowned cavers and Ingleborough cave guides, John Cordingley and Richard Walters have been exploring these possibilities in a quest to realise a long-held ambition:
“Ever since I came to work at the cave I’ve pondered on how the Pillar might one day be repaired,” says John. “As a caver I’ve been involved in cementing broken stalactites together several times over the years.
We have good techniques for this nowadays and when the repairs naturally become coated with new calcite they often become invisible. But creating a missing piece from scratch using photographic evidence from long ago is a much greater challenge! We’re taking the time to consult with other cavers who have experience with stalactite repair to work out the best method for recreating the missing piece of The Pillar.”
Ben Redhead, Manager at Ingleborough Cave, has worked hard to research and source original photos of the cave and, most particularly, of the pillar before it was damaged. These images will be a key element in ensuring accuracy of replication and restoration.
Before any work can begin there will be a process of consultation with Natural England to obtain consent to do the work as the cave is an important Site of Special Scientific Interest.
As with the repair of any ancient treasure, the process will be complex and time-consuming. If achieved, it will be an extraordinary combination of ancient natural processes, modern technology and expert teamwork. Maybe, after nearly 200 years, The Pillar will once again appear as it did when it was first discovered.
As the famous quote goes, “Everything will be OK in the end. If it is not OK it is not the end.”
