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
Fieldwork emphasizes safety, ethics, and conservation, seeking to minimize disturbance to fragile cave ecosystems and to
Historically, modern speleology emerged in the late 19th century with pioneers such as Edouard-Alfred Martel, who