Caves

The caves
First seen	"White Rabbit"
Last seen	"Across the Sea"
Constructed	Natural forces
Controlled	Formerly by the survivors, now abandoned.

For the cave where Locke finds Eko in "Further Instructions", see Polar bear cave.

The caves were discovered by Jack while he was chasing the Man in Black disguised as his father. Due to its running supply of fresh water, it became, for a time, a home to the middle section survivors. According to Jack, it provided a number of benefits:

• Located one mile from the beach camp
• Unlimited supply of fresh water
• Tree canopy which keeps the temperature down
• Shields out the sun
• The openings are narrow, which meant easier for protection against predators

History

Jacob and the Man in Black's Mother

Jacob laying his mother and brother to rest.

The adoptive mother of both Jacob and the Man in Black lived in the cave and raised them there. It was also the place where the Man in Black killed his mother and where Jacob laid his mother and the Man in Black to rest, later to be known as Adam and Eve. ("Across the Sea")

Adam & Eve

Adam and/or Eve in the caves in "House of the Rising Sun".

Adam and Eve together in the episode "Lighthouse".

The remains of the Man in Black and his adoptive mother, which were given the names Adam and Eve by Locke, were found in the cave and have been dead at least 40-50 years according to the deterioration of their clothing. They were carrying one black and one white stone, which were placed there by Jacob. Jack took these stones and neglected to mention them when Locke asked what had been discovered. ("House of the Rising Sun") ("Across the Sea")

There were seen again by Jack and Hugo three years later, though they had changed positions and now both skeletons were placed side-by-side, and possibly in a different part of the caves, closer to Jack's father's coffin.

The religious nickname is taken from Adam and Eve of the Bible.

The Caves and the survivors

Jack staring at the newly found cargo compartment.

The Caves were first discovered by the survivors when Jack was chasing what he thought was his dead father who was later to revealed to be The Man in Black. Part of the plane's cargo compartment also landed in the caves found, along with various objects that were in it, including luggage, a coffin and dolls. After Jack discovers the caves, he decides it is a good place to set up camp, due to its running supply of fresh water. However this made a disagreement within the Losties mainly because it will be harder to spot by potential rescuers flying in planes. About half of the group moved to the caves.

Many situations have occurred at the caves like Jack and Charlie being in a cave-in, after a few days living in the caves, prompting Michael to check the structural integrity of the rest of the caves. Also Boone ultimately dies here after sustaining fatal wounds while exploring the drug smugglers' plane.

A cave-in occurs.

When Danielle Rousseau warns the group that the Others are coming, the group hid at the caves while waiting for the hatch to open.

However the caves were eventually abandoned once the hatch was opened (last seen in "Adrift"). Presumably, the Swan was closer to camp. It also had a sink, so trekking to the caves may not have been as practical. However, since the destruction of The Swan in the season two finale, the caves have not appeared as a source of water or protection for the crash survivors.

They have also been referenced afterwards, in "What Kate Did", "Dave", and "One of Us".

Ethan's drop off point is described as being near the caves. ("One of Us")

Several years later in 2007 Jack and Hurley visited the caves after finding one of Shannon's old inhalers while on their way to the lighthouse. ("Lighthouse")

Residents

Jack	Hurley	Locke	Jin	Sun
Charlie	Claire	Michael	Walt	Doug
Arzt	Unnamed	Unnamed	Unnamed	Mother
MiB	Jacob

Disagreement

There was some disagreement among the survivors as to whether it was better to camp in the caves or on the beach.

After Jack discovers the caves, he decides it is a good place to set up camp.

• It is close to the water.
• Caves and canopy of trees provide better shelter.
• Smaller openings are easier to defend.

There is a contingent that disagrees, mainly because it will be harder to spot by potential rescuers flying in planes. Among those that disagree with Jack are Kate, Sayid, and Sawyer.

• This argument seems to have been settled in favor of the beach camp after the discovery of the Swan.
• Bernard attempts to use lava rocks to create a signal visible from the air; this is only possible on the beach. ("S.O.S.")
• Arzt opposed the move to the caves, until he was spooked by the Monster ("Arzt & Crafts")
• Shannon does not want to move to the caves because Claire was attacked. (She calls them the "rape caves"). Boone, by extension, stays at the beach to be with Shannon.

In Lost: Via Domus

Elliott explores deep inside the caves. ("Via Domus")

In the video game Lost: Via Domus, a different set caves are seen in greater detail. The caves as seen in Lost: Via Domus is considered a canonical addition to the show. The caves are explored in further detail by Elliott Maslow and John Locke. Elliott explored the caves on Day 2 and Day 18 on the Island. When Elliott first explored the caves, he discovered that it was filled with deep fissures, bats, and a dead polar bear. The Monster could also be heard inside the caves. Elliott also saw visions of Lisa inside the caves. ("A New Day")

Locke led Elliott to the caves and told him that he would give him the battery if he entered the caves. Elliott explored the caves and followed Lisa to a waterfall cavern. He discovered a corpse that was holding a compass. The compass had Via Domus inscribed on it, which means The Way Home. ("Via Domus")

Ben later told Elliott that the Others put the compass there, and it wasn't an accident that he found it. ("Worth A Thousand Words")