Recording of oral traditions was an important part of the research. In almost every village where enquiries were made the construction of the caves held a firm record in oral tradition. The constructions were unanimously linked with one or another Dahomean king, and their function mainly explained as hiding places. Often individual families were said to be the owners of one or several caves, formerly trying to keep the information about them in secrecy; the knowledge about the caves would be passed on from one generation to the other.