| Summary : A cave which has produced one of the largest assemblages of archaeological material dating from the Late Glacial period, as well as significant finds of later date including the Mesolithic skeleton known as "Cheddar Man". The cave was "discovered" and first properly explored in 1890 by Richard Cox Gough, who was searching for a new show cave to compete with others in the area. The cave entrance had been in use previously as a cart shed and a gambler's den. Between 1890 and 1898 much sediment was removed, along with animal remains plus flint and bone artefacts. In 1903, blasting near the entrance resulted in the discovery of Cheddar Man. Early accounts are far from ideal, but the bones seem to have represented a contracted inhumation. Recently obtained radiocarbon dates place the skeleton in the early Mesolithic period. Excavations have occurred intermittently throughout the 20th century, mainly in response to needs to improve public access and presentation of the caves. These have produced a considerable quantity of animal remains, flint implements and other items, including a large block of amber, "batons de commandement", and further human remains. The bulk of the finds seem to relate to use of the cave in the Late Glacial period, circa 13000 to 12000 radicoarbon years bp. The animal bones in particular point to both human and carnivore occupation. Flints, Cheddar Man, and other items point to some Mesolithic activity, while other finds highlight episodes of use in the Bronze Age, Iron Age and Roman periods. Among the most significant of the earlier finds are the most recent, recovered during small scale excavations in 1984 and 1986-7. Finds included disarticulated human remains and animal remains, with evidence for cut marks on both; fragments of mammoth ivory marked with linear incisions taken to represent some form of notation; part of a spearhead of mammoth ivory; an antler "baton de commandment"; and another worked piece of amber. |
More information : [ST 4666 5386] GOUGH'S CAVERN [G.T.] (Stalactite). (1)
Excavations, 1903 and later, revealed an upper Paleolithic burial, hearths, bone and flint implements, a block of Baltic amber, two 'Batons de Commandemant' etc. The flints were of Creswellian type. The upper deposits contained E.I.A. & R.B. pottery.
Goughs Old Cave, 30' east of the above ST 4668 5388, excavated 1954-8. Much disturbed; but two hearths were found, one associated with Roman & I.A. 'B' pottery, and other with I.A. 'A'. Fragments of several saddle querns were found unstratified, but parts of two upper stones were associated with the latter hearth.
Finds in Goughs Cavern Museum, Weston-Super-Mare Museum, Taunton Mus, and Univ. Mus., Oxford. Roman coins, 1st-4th cent. and possibly later have been found, possibly here or at the Long Hole cave and
slitter [ST 45 S.E. 9]. (2-5)
The entrance to Gough's Cavern is at ST 46705391, and the entrance to Gough's Old Cave is at ST 46785389.
Positioned at 1:2500. (6)
Two items of unusual interest from Gough's Cave (the name which seems now to be adopted for 'Gough's Cavern') are: (a). The skeleton known as 'the Cheddar man' which now has a radio carbon dated of 7130 BC approx, and is thought to be a deliberate interment of the very late Palaeolithic.(7). (b). A bone-point with grouped and purposeful-looking notches, which is thought to be some kind of tally or calculating device. (Good coloured illustration). (7-8)
Excavations in 1927. (9)
Excavations from 1928-1931. (10)
Rescue excavation, 1968. (11)
Additional references (12-13)
Gough's Old Cave - its history. (14)
Late Palaeolithic exploration of horse and red deer at Gough's Cave. (15)
Bird remains. (16)
Human bones. (17)
The remains of 2 children and at least 3 adults were found at Gough's Cave in April-July 1987, during excavations by Lancaster University and the London National History Museum. Possible signs of cannibalism were evident, and a fine collection of artifacts. (18)
Additional references. (19-23)
The block of amber from Gough's Cave is one of only three certain amber finds of Mesolithic date from Britain, the other two sites being Starr Carr and Cresswell Crags. (24) |