Spelaeology

Spelaeology, also spelled speleology, is the scientific study of caves and cave systems and their environments. It covers how caves form, how they are organized, how water moves through karst, and how living organisms adapt to subterranean life, as well as the anthropological and paleontological records found underground. The term comes from Greek spele-"cave" and -logia.

The field is multidisciplinary, including geology, geomorphology, hydrology, biology (biospeleology), archaeology, and paleontology, as well as environmental science and conservation. Researchers document cave passages by surveying and mapping, study rock formations (stalactites and stalagmites), analyze sediment and mineral deposits, measure microclimates, and use dating techniques to reconstruct cave histories. Biodiversity in caves—often highly specialized—ranges from bacteria to troglobitic invertebrates and sometimes includes endemic species.

Fieldwork emphasizes safety, ethics, and conservation, seeking to minimize disturbance to fragile cave ecosystems and to protect groundwater resources. Biospeleologists study cave-dwelling organisms and their ecosystems, while hydrogeologists assess aquifers and cave-bearing rock where groundwater travels.

Historically, modern speleology emerged in the late 19th century with pioneers such as Edouard-Alfred Martel, who organized systematic exploration and mapping of caves. Since then, it has developed as an international science with national societies, field expeditions, and regular conferences.