The mysterious world of caves has held our attention since Pleistocene people first painted the walls of Lascaux. In this book, veteran caver Jill Florio teaches a complete course in speleology - the exploration and study of caves. The reader will learn about the history of cave exploration; the geology of caves and the spectacular rock formations that are sometimes found in them; caving gear; general and specialized caving techniques; risks and safety measures; and surveying and mapping of caves. This is a useful resource for anyone interested in caves and cave exploration.