198 Miss Dorothea M. A. Bate— 



coastline, though in a greater or less degree, is recorded by this- 

 author for nearly the whole of the west coast of Crete. 



It might be assumed that the ossiferous remains were introduced 

 into the cave by the sea, but on the other hand several facts seem to 

 suggest a different explanation. The appearance of the interior of 

 the cave points conclusively to its having been invaded by the sea- 

 subsequently to the deposition of the mammalian remains as already 

 mentioned above. The material in which these are embedded i& 

 exactly similar to that found in other caves differently situated,, 

 and does not contain sea shells, though a few occurred, together 

 with a small quantity of sand, in a hole or crevice. Some of these 

 were adhering to pieces of bone which were exposed at this spot, 

 but none were found enclosed in the solid matrix in conjunction, 

 with the mammalian remains. A considerable quantity of coarse 

 sand was also observed in a crevice containing a number of remains 

 in the cave near Eavduka. 



As an alternative the only manner in which it seems at all 

 possible that these remains could have been deposited in the caves 

 when under water would be through the agency of an underground 

 river with its outlet below the surface of the sea. Accumulations 

 might then have formed in a backwater or eddy, or even in the main 

 stream when it had become sufficiently reduced to allow of this.. 

 The partial destruction of the deposits by sea action would take 

 place when the sea and cave eventually occupied relative positions 

 that would allow the surf to break in with some force. In Crete, 

 as in other limestone countries, these subterranean streams are by 

 no means uncommon;^ as examples mention may be made of the 

 swallow-holes, locally known as khonos or katavothron, which 

 carry off the waters from a number of hill-encircled upland basins. 

 Besides these are several streams with a large flow of water which 

 abruptly rise out of the ground, as near Haghios Nikola, at Armyra 

 west of Candia, and at Armyro on the coast at the south-west 

 corner of Armyro Bay. 



On the whole it seems easier to believe that these bone breccias- 

 were originally formed on the floors of land caves subsequently 

 submerged beneath the sea, from which they have again been 

 gradually elevated to the extent already noted. 



To account for the disappearance of the walls and roof of soine- 

 of these caves, such as at the deposit near Cape Maleka and several 

 others in the east of the island which have not been submerged, is 

 not difficult. For even where the action of the sea has played no- 

 part, or only to the extent of surf breaking in during storms, the 

 effects of weathering on these practically barren limestone rocks is 

 very rapid and severe. As a factor of possible importance in the^ 

 destruction of the caves, it may be remembered that Crete lies 

 within the zone where earthquakes are of by no means infrequent 

 occurrence ; a particularly severe one doing much damage to many 

 of the towns occurred as late as 1856. 



^ An interesting paper dealing witli this subject is " Submarine Gullies, Eiver 

 Outlets, and Fresh-water Escapes beneath the Sea-level," by H. Benest, Assoc. 

 M.Inst. C. E. : Geog. Journal, October, 1899, vol. xiv, pp. 394-413. 



