Overview:

Darby Cave is a limestone cave located in the St. John’s Parish of Antigua-and-Barbuda. The cave was named after the late Archbishop Robert Edwin ‘‘Darby’’ Austin, who was the first Bishop of the islands. Darby Cave is located near the northwestern coast of Antigua-and-Barbuda, just outside of the capital of St. John’s. The cave is accessible for tourists who take part in local sightseeing boat tours. Darby Cave features a large opening that allows visitors to explore numerous stalactite and stalagmite formations, as well as other natural formations and artifacts. The cave also features a large, naturally occurring pool of fresh water, and is home to a diverse variety of marine wildlife such as crabs, fish, and lobsters. Darby Cave is a popular tourist destination due to its fantastic scenery and irregular geology. Visitors from around the world come to enjoy the natural beauty and unique features of the cave. There is no admission fee to visit the cave, making it a relatively inexpensive destination. It is one of the most beautiful monuments in Antigua-and-Barbuda
Prominent Features:

1. Historic Landmark: Darby Cave is a large natural limestone cave located on the west coast of Antigua-and-Barbuda. It has been designated as an historic landmark due to its archaeological and geological significance. 2. Volcanic Origin: The cave is thought to have been formed by volcanic activity, and it is estimated to be over 1000 years old. 3. Mysterious Drawings: Inside the cave, archeologists have discovered ancient drawings that are believed to be part of a pre-Columbian culture. 4. Spectacular Views: Darby Cave is also known for its spectacular views of the nearby island. The cave offers an amazing view of the surrounding area and is a great place to take pictures. 5. Ecology: The cave is also home to a number of interesting species of animals, such as bats, snakes, and crustaceans. It is a great place to observe the wildlife of the area. 6. Stories and Legends: The local people have many stories and legends related to the cave. These stories often tell of hidden treasures or magical beings, adding to the mystery surrounding the cave. You can learn history, culture, and heritage through these magnificent monuments in Antigua-and-Barbuda.

History:

Darby Cave is a large limestone cave located on the western slope of St. John’s Hill in the parish of St. John on the Caribbean island nation of Antigua & Barbuda. The cave is estimated to be over 500 feet long and 60 feet wide. It is believed to have formed as a collapse of the surface layer of limestone, due to rainwater moving through the porous limestone. The first recorded mention of the cave is in the records of the sugar plantation that covered the area. Records from the 1730s describe how slave laborers were sent to the "cave in the hill" to hide barrels of rum during a raid by customs inspectors. Numerous stories and folk tales about the cave have been passed down through local generations, with many of them involving visits from famous pirates like Anne Bonny, or a maleficent ghost-like creature called the "Old Darby Monster". The cave is thought to have served as a hideout for slaves who fled the plantations, and looking at the cave today there are still signs of human occupation. The remains of pottery, broken glass, and other artifacts have been found within the cave. Today, Darby Cave is a popular tourist attraction, offering visitors a unique glimpse into Antigua & Barbuda’s past. In the 1970s the government designated it as a protected natural area, and in 2017 it was declared a National Heritage Site. Visit one of the famous monuments of Antigua-and-Barbuda with your friends and family.

Interesting facts:

1. Darby Cave is one of the oldest known sites of human habitation in Antigua and Barbuda, with artifacts from as far back as 2500 BC. 2. The cave is considered to be the most archaeologically important in Antigua and Barbuda and is open to the public for exploration. 3. The cave was named after a British Army surveyor, John Darby, who explored and documented its beauty in 1747. 4. The archaeology of the site revealed that many different people have called the cave home over the centuries, from Arawak, Carib, African, and colonial populations. 5. Excavations of the cave in the 90s and 2000s revealed pottery, spear points, stone tools, animal bones, and metal objects such as fish hooks and nails. 6. The artifacts suggest that the inhabitants of the cave were hunter-gatherers who hunted and fished in the surrounding area. 7. The site is also home to an ancient burial ground, with artifacts from the Colonial and Antiguan periods. 8. Darby Cave is an important protected site in Antigua and Barbuda and was declared a National Monument in 1989. 9. The cave is located in a limestone formation near Carlisle Bay, just outside of the capital city of St. John's. One of the historical monuments of Antigua-and-Barbuda, it tells the story of a bygone era