173:. On Aruba, a paint sample from one site yields a transitional date of A.D. 1000, marking the shift from Late Archaic to Early Ceramic periods. Although some Archaic pictographs are present on Aruba, the majority were likely created during the Ceramic Period. The rock paintings were created and utilized by ancient communities for ceremonial and religious purposes. Aruba's current rock art collection comprises 300 to 350 individual representations spread across 22 sites, five of the 22 sites occur in the northeastern coast limestone caves.
391:
238:
247:
317:
308:
192:
201:
373:
382:
28:
361:
ecological value these caves hold for the island. The 175 cents stamp features
Baranca Sunu Cave, the 200 cents stamp showcases Fontein Cave, and the 225 cents stamp highlights the entrance of Quadirikiri Cave. Such stamps not only commemorate the geological wonders but also contribute to the broader cultural identity of Aruba.
360:
In a testament to their cultural and national significance, the caves of Aruba, specifically
Quadirikiri Cave, Fontein Cave, and Huliba Cave, were honored with the issuance of postage stamps by Post Aruba in April 2009. This recognition serves as a symbolic acknowledgment of the unique geological and
284:
on the stones walls and flatter roof portion of the cave in brownish-red colour or reddish brown or purplish colour; this in turn gives a clue to the history of the
Amerindians. The cave is accessible from an "escarpment of a terrace of coral limestone" and has a width of 3 metres (9.8 ft) and a
223:
According to a local folk tale, the cave is associated with the story of an Indian chief's daughter who fell in love with someone her father did not approve of. In consequence, she was confined within the cave, while her beloved was imprisoned in a nearby cave called Huliba Cave, also known as the
293:
formations in very odd shapes and sizes. Long tongued bats nestle in the holes of the cave which go on their nocturnal hunt to collect and feed on food in the form of nectar and pollen. It is also reported that Arawak
Indians used to perform their tribal rituals and ceremonies inside this cave.
339:
The Huliba Cave (known as the "Baranca Sunu cave" also meaning "Naked Rock") is nicknamed the "Tunnel of Love" for its heart-shaped entrance. The entrance is through a steep and narrow stairway which dips into the cave. It has five entrances. At places, one has to crouch to see the formations.
285:
height of 2 metres (6 ft 7 in). The entrance hall, which is open for visitors, is 4 metres (13 ft) in height and extends to a depth of 50 metres (160 ft). As it is in limestone geological formation, solution effect due to seeping water has resulted in colourful
215:
The
Quadirikiri Cave is notable for its two large dome-shaped chambers which are illuminated with sunlight through holes in the ceiling. Entry to the cave is at the base of the cliff. This 492-foot (150 m) long cave is also a nesting site for numerous small nocturnal
348:. It is interesting to watch when the bats, after sleeping in the caves during the day time, fly out in hordes in search of food. The exit from the tunnel is through a series of steps that are carved on the rock face and are quite risky. In one of the chambers, the
107:. The presence of these bats species is of ecological importance, contributing to the preservation of Aruba's biodiversity. Their role in controlling insect populations and aiding in pollination underscores their significance within the island's ecosystem.
340:
Flashlights are needed to explore the 300 feet (91 m) long passageway, as it is totally dark inside the cave. The cave is studded with stalagmites and stalactites formations in limestone rocks. Two bat species residing in this cave include the
224:"Tunnel of Love." In an underground rendezvous, both lovers managed to meet. The legend goes that they eventually passed away within the cave, and their spirits ascended to heaven through the openings in the cave's roof.
488:
419:
352:
has been carved in the natural rock formation. Legend mentions about pirates inhabiting the cave to hide their treasures, though there is no proof to confirm this.
728:
591:
487:
Simal, Fernando; Smith, Linda; Doest, Odette; de Lannoy, Clifford; Franken, Facundo; Zaandam, Indra; Simal, Daniela; Nassar, Jafet M. (14 February 2022).
448:
718:
708:
541:
220:, which are harmless. In order to preserve the natural habitat of the cave for the bats to breed, one of the caves is barred for visitors.
568:
703:
136:
120:
713:
683:
489:"Bat Inventories at Caves and Mines on the Islands of Aruba, Bonaire and Curaçao, and Proposed Conservation Actions"
611:
698:
341:
326:
140:
149:
sites are abundant and represent a rare aspect of
Amerindian heritage preserved in their original context.
424:
345:
452:
390:
558:
237:
170:
80:
76:
723:
658:
596:
150:
270:
564:
537:
508:
653:
500:
246:
135:
settlements. The 1920s witnessed a significant transformation with the establishment of the
124:
466:
316:
557:
Hayward, Michele H.; Atkinson, Lesley-Gail; Cinquino, Michael A., eds. (14 July 2009).
274:
128:
692:
644:
635:
504:
277:
307:
132:
96:
684:
https://web.archive.org/web/20080528142423/http://www.aruba.com/whattodo/caves.php
372:
191:
534:
Who is Aruban? : social integration and nation building in Aruba, 1924-2001
527:
349:
290:
286:
281:
260:
256:
200:
100:
381:
27:
529:
Ken ta
Arubiano? : sociale integratie en natievorming op Aruba, 1924-2001
154:
512:
166:
104:
63:
146:
158:
209:
Left: View from
Guadirikiri Cave. Right: Holes in the roof of the cave
95:. These subterranean environments serve as habitats for a variety of
273:
on the northern part of the island. It is well known for its native
162:
116:
41:
217:
127:(AD 1000–1515), and the post-European colonial era marked by
563:. Tuscaloosa, Alabama: The University of Alabama Press.
536:] (in Dutch). Oranjestad : VAD/De Wit Stores.
255:
Left: Graphic Indian paintings in
Fontein Cave. Right:
32:
Two large domes shaped entrance to the
Guadirikiri Cave
119:
unfolds in three phases of indigenous migration—the
59:
47:
37:
20:
467:"Bat Monitoring | Aruba National Park Foundation"
451:. Aruba Tourism Authority. 2010. Archived from
280:on the wall, which were decoratively etched by
659:10.2305/IUCN.UK.2015-4.RLTS.T11699A22126917.en
414:
412:
410:
408:
263:in the shape of screaming monster and buffalo
143:, ushering in a fourth wave of inhabitants.
8:
26:
17:
657:
586:
584:
582:
580:
443:
441:
439:
437:
435:
420:"Aruba – Nature and Scientific Wonders"
404:
368:
526:Alofs, Luc; Merkies, Leontine (2001).
325:Left: Bats in Cave Formations. Right:
269:The Fontein Cave is a small cave near
83:, comprise notable formations such as
7:
729:Caves containing pictograms in Aruba
53:Fontein Cave 50 metres (164 ft)
51:Guadirikiri Cave 98 feet (30 m)
645:IUCN Red List of Threatened Species
153:reveals a sequential occupation of
14:
449:"New Stamp Issue: Caves of Aruba"
505:10.3161/15081109ACC2021.23.2.015
389:
380:
371:
315:
306:
245:
236:
199:
190:
55:Huliba Cave 300 feet (91 m)
614:. Wondermondo. 14 October 2012.
137:Lago Oil and Transport Company
1:
719:Limestone formations of Aruba
709:Tourist attractions in Aruba
745:
356:Postage stamps recognition
560:Rock Art of the Caribbean
25:
342:Southern Long-nosed Bat
327:Southern Long-nosed Bat
141:Arend Petroleum Company
704:Caves of the Caribbean
638:Leptonycteris curasoae
592:"Arikok National Park"
346:long-tongued Fruit Bat
331:Leptonycteris curasoae
652:: e.T11699A22126917.
493:Acta Chiropterologica
714:Limestone formations
455:on 1 September 2010.
425:Smithsonian Magazine
81:Arikok National Park
634:Nassar, J. (2015).
600:. 20 November 2006.
123:(2500 BC–AD 1000),
612:"Quadirikiri Cave"
597:The New York Times
428:. 6 November 2007.
169:coast around 2500
151:Radiocarbon dating
543:978-99904-81-10-5
125:Neo-indian period
75:, located on the
69:
68:
736:
671:
670:
668:
666:
661:
631:
625:
622:
616:
615:
608:
602:
601:
588:
575:
574:
554:
548:
547:
523:
517:
516:
484:
478:
477:
475:
473:
463:
457:
456:
445:
430:
429:
416:
393:
384:
375:
333:) found in Aruba
319:
310:
249:
240:
203:
194:
182:Quadirikiri Cave
117:history of Aruba
99:bats, including
85:Quadirikiri Cave
79:side within the
30:
18:
744:
743:
739:
738:
737:
735:
734:
733:
689:
688:
680:
675:
674:
664:
662:
633:
632:
628:
623:
619:
610:
609:
605:
590:
589:
578:
571:
556:
555:
551:
544:
525:
524:
520:
486:
485:
481:
471:
469:
465:
464:
460:
447:
446:
433:
418:
417:
406:
401:
394:
385:
376:
367:
358:
337:
336:
335:
334:
322:
321:
320:
312:
311:
300:
267:
266:
265:
264:
252:
251:
250:
242:
241:
230:
213:
212:
211:
210:
206:
205:
204:
196:
195:
184:
179:
113:
54:
52:
33:
12:
11:
5:
742:
740:
732:
731:
726:
721:
716:
711:
706:
701:
699:Caves of Aruba
691:
690:
687:
686:
679:
678:External links
676:
673:
672:
626:
624:Sullivan, p.82
617:
603:
576:
569:
549:
542:
518:
479:
458:
431:
403:
402:
400:
397:
396:
395:
388:
386:
379:
377:
370:
366:
363:
357:
354:
324:
323:
314:
313:
305:
304:
303:
302:
301:
299:
296:
254:
253:
244:
243:
235:
234:
233:
232:
231:
229:
226:
208:
207:
198:
197:
189:
188:
187:
186:
185:
183:
180:
178:
175:
112:
109:
73:caves of Aruba
67:
66:
61:
57:
56:
49:
45:
44:
39:
35:
34:
31:
23:
22:
21:Caves of Aruba
13:
10:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
741:
730:
727:
725:
722:
720:
717:
715:
712:
710:
707:
705:
702:
700:
697:
696:
694:
685:
682:
681:
677:
660:
655:
651:
647:
646:
641:
639:
630:
627:
621:
618:
613:
607:
604:
599:
598:
593:
587:
585:
583:
581:
577:
572:
570:9780817381592
566:
562:
561:
553:
550:
545:
539:
535:
531:
530:
522:
519:
514:
510:
506:
502:
498:
494:
490:
483:
480:
468:
462:
459:
454:
450:
444:
442:
440:
438:
436:
432:
427:
426:
421:
415:
413:
411:
409:
405:
398:
392:
387:
383:
378:
374:
369:
364:
362:
355:
353:
351:
347:
343:
332:
328:
318:
309:
297:
295:
292:
288:
283:
279:
276:
272:
262:
258:
248:
239:
227:
225:
221:
219:
202:
193:
181:
176:
174:
172:
168:
164:
160:
156:
152:
148:
144:
142:
138:
134:
130:
126:
122:
118:
110:
108:
106:
102:
98:
94:
90:
86:
82:
78:
74:
65:
62:
58:
50:
46:
43:
40:
36:
29:
24:
19:
16:
663:. Retrieved
649:
643:
637:
629:
620:
606:
595:
559:
552:
533:
528:
521:
496:
492:
482:
470:. Retrieved
461:
453:the original
423:
359:
338:
330:
268:
228:Fontein Cave
222:
214:
145:
114:
101:insectivores
92:
89:Fontein Cave
88:
84:
72:
70:
15:
665:12 November
472:10 November
350:Virgin Mary
298:Huliba Cave
291:stalactites
287:stalagmites
282:Amerindians
261:stalactites
257:Stalagmites
121:archaic age
93:Huliba Cave
724:Tall tales
693:Categories
399:References
271:Boca Prins
167:Venezuelan
105:frugivores
513:1508-1109
165:from the
97:nocturnal
64:Limestone
278:drawings
147:Rock art
77:windward
38:Location
365:Gallery
159:Bonaire
155:Curaçao
129:Spanish
111:History
60:Geology
567:
540:
511:
275:Arawak
161:, and
91:, and
48:Length
532:[
499:(2).
177:Caves
163:Aruba
133:Dutch
42:Aruba
667:2021
650:2015
565:ISBN
538:ISBN
509:ISSN
474:2023
344:and
289:and
259:and
218:bats
139:and
131:and
115:The
103:and
71:The
654:doi
501:doi
695::
648:.
642:.
594:.
579:^
507:.
497:23
495:.
491:.
434:^
422:.
407:^
171:BC
157:,
87:,
669:.
656::
640:"
636:"
573:.
546:.
515:.
503::
476:.
329:(
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.
