A couple of friends, Bergvin Snær Andrésson and Hlynur Sveinsson, spent the weekend excavating a lost cave located in the foothills of a mountain north of Borgarfjörður fjord in the Eastfjords in East Iceland. The entrance to the cave, known as Skriðnahellir by locals, had been covered by a large rock- and mudslide some 20 years ago. After they cleared the entrance the giant hidden cave revealed itself.
The two adventurers documented the entire project in a fascinating video which captures both the dirt and the excitement of the fascinating project.
One of Iceland’s most isolated villages
Borgarfjörður Eystri, a small remote fishing village in East Iceland, can only be reached by sea or by a narrow dirt road which clings to the hills of the dramatic Dyrfjöll mountain range to the west of town. Rockslides are common in the steep hills, which are called Njarðvíkurskriður. Twenty years ago a mudslide from the mountain hill closed a deep cave in the hillside. A few years ago a local man re-located the cave, but after uncovering the entrance he abandoned the project, leaving a shovel for anyone who wanted to pick up the job.
Over the weekend the two friends decided they would take up the challenge. Armed with shovels the two set to work digging mud out of the entrance to the cave. As they dug deeper into the entrance they had to pull mud out in a 30 litre (6 gallon) plastic container. Hlynur estimates that they pulled at least 4,000 kg (8,800 pounds) of mud out of the entrance before they stopped. A project the two men believed would take several years was completed in just three days.
A makeshift altar, an empty beer can and a candle
The mud had blocked the first ten meters (33 ft.) of the cave, but after they had cleared this passage they finally broke into the cave itself, a 7-10 m (22-33 ft.) wide and 3-4 m (10-13 ft.) high chamber. Hlynur tells the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV it was an unforgettable experience to finally get into the cave: “It was a bit strange to enter a space which had been sealed off from the rest of the world for at least 20 years. And to find it completely intact. We were overcome with joy!”
They found some human remains in the cave, a few bottles a candle and an empty can of low-alcohol beer placed atop what looked like a makeshift altar. Hlynur also told RÚV people should not try to get into the cave on their own. Enormous amounts of dirt still blocked most of the passage into the cave.
Second cave, inhabited by mythical monster not found
Skriðnahellir is not the only cave in the vicinity, as a second cave Naddahellir is located in Njarðvíkurskriður. According to local legend this cave, which has also been covered by rock- and mudslides, was the home of a mythical monster called Naddur who attacked travellers. Naddur, whose lower torso was that of a man, but upper body that of a beast preyed on locals who had to travel the steep foothills.
According to myth the beast was ultimately defeated by a local farmer. The farmer was attacked by the beast when he was trying to cross the rocky foothills, and fought back. After a long fight the farmer asked god for help, swearing he would build a raise a cross to his glory if the beast was defeated. At that moment he was able to throw the monster down into the sea. It is believed that a cross has stood in the hills ever since this fight between man and beast.
The cross has been renewed several times, with the current cross having been made by a local smith in 1954. It bears the inscription
EFFIGIEM CHRISTI QUI TRANSIS PRONUS HONORA ANNO MCCCVI
Which has been translated as “You who cross this sign of Christ, bow your head in worship. The year 1306.
A couple of friends, Bergvin Snær Andrésson and Hlynur Sveinsson, spent the weekend excavating a lost cave located in the foothills of a mountain north of Borgarfjörður fjord in the Eastfjords in East Iceland. The entrance to the cave, known as Skriðnahellir by locals, had been covered by a large rock- and mudslide some 20 years ago. After they cleared the entrance the giant hidden cave revealed itself.
The two adventurers documented the entire project in a fascinating video which captures both the dirt and the excitement of the fascinating project.
One of Iceland’s most isolated villages
Borgarfjörður Eystri, a small remote fishing village in East Iceland, can only be reached by sea or by a narrow dirt road which clings to the hills of the dramatic Dyrfjöll mountain range to the west of town. Rockslides are common in the steep hills, which are called Njarðvíkurskriður. Twenty years ago a mudslide from the mountain hill closed a deep cave in the hillside. A few years ago a local man re-located the cave, but after uncovering the entrance he abandoned the project, leaving a shovel for anyone who wanted to pick up the job.
Over the weekend the two friends decided they would take up the challenge. Armed with shovels the two set to work digging mud out of the entrance to the cave. As they dug deeper into the entrance they had to pull mud out in a 30 litre (6 gallon) plastic container. Hlynur estimates that they pulled at least 4,000 kg (8,800 pounds) of mud out of the entrance before they stopped. A project the two men believed would take several years was completed in just three days.
A makeshift altar, an empty beer can and a candle
The mud had blocked the first ten meters (33 ft.) of the cave, but after they had cleared this passage they finally broke into the cave itself, a 7-10 m (22-33 ft.) wide and 3-4 m (10-13 ft.) high chamber. Hlynur tells the Icelandic National Broadcasting Service RÚV it was an unforgettable experience to finally get into the cave: “It was a bit strange to enter a space which had been sealed off from the rest of the world for at least 20 years. And to find it completely intact. We were overcome with joy!”
They found some human remains in the cave, a few bottles a candle and an empty can of low-alcohol beer placed atop what looked like a makeshift altar. Hlynur also told RÚV people should not try to get into the cave on their own. Enormous amounts of dirt still blocked most of the passage into the cave.
Second cave, inhabited by mythical monster not found
Skriðnahellir is not the only cave in the vicinity, as a second cave Naddahellir is located in Njarðvíkurskriður. According to local legend this cave, which has also been covered by rock- and mudslides, was the home of a mythical monster called Naddur who attacked travellers. Naddur, whose lower torso was that of a man, but upper body that of a beast preyed on locals who had to travel the steep foothills.
According to myth the beast was ultimately defeated by a local farmer. The farmer was attacked by the beast when he was trying to cross the rocky foothills, and fought back. After a long fight the farmer asked god for help, swearing he would build a raise a cross to his glory if the beast was defeated. At that moment he was able to throw the monster down into the sea. It is believed that a cross has stood in the hills ever since this fight between man and beast.
The cross has been renewed several times, with the current cross having been made by a local smith in 1954. It bears the inscription
EFFIGIEM CHRISTI QUI TRANSIS PRONUS HONORA ANNO MCCCVI
Which has been translated as “You who cross this sign of Christ, bow your head in worship. The year 1306.
