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HER Number: | MDV124141 |
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Name: | Bench Cavern, Blackball Lane, Brixham |
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Summary
Bench Cavern was discovered in March 1861 during quarrying operations on the northern slopes of Furzeham Hill. The obvious site of the cavern is in the vicinity of Bench House.
Location
Grid Reference: | SX 923 566 |
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Map Sheet: | SX95NW |
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Admin Area | Torbay |
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Civil Parish | Brixham |
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District | Torbay |
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Ecclesiastical Parish | BRIXHAM |
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Protected Status: none recorded
Other References/Statuses
Monument Type(s) and Dates
Full description
Torbay HER record (SMR record). SDV361984.
Bench Cavern was was discovered, or rather recognised in March 1861, on the northern slopes of Furzeham Hill, during re-newed quarrying operations at Bench Quarry. Pengelly describes the typoical cave-earth which had been first 'laid bare' over 22 years previously, i.e., 1839. The proprietor would not surrender the quarry for scientific examination and the greater part of limestone and the earth was removed by the time of Pengelly's visit. He reported the presence of hundreds of animal bones, mostly hyena and canis spp. Were found, but no flint implements. [1] The finds salvaged from the cave, actually include 4 earlier upper palaeolithic pieces of flint, and are shared between the the British and Torquay Museums. [2][3]
The obvious site of the cavern is in the vicinity of Bench House.
Hicks, D. & Stevenson, A., 2013, World Archaeology at the Pitt Rivers Museum, A Characterisation. (Article in Monograph). SDV363549.
The Pitt Rivers Museum collection contains two photographs of a hyena jaw and a leaf point found with it in Bench Cavern, Brixham. The images show the association between the jaw and the artefact.
<1> Pengelly, W., 1870, Transactions of the Devonshire Association, p.77-80 (Article in Serial). SDV362483.
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<2> Bonsall, C., 1977, Gazetteer of Upper Palaeolithic Sites, p.418 (Monograph). SDV362525.
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<3> Garrod, D.A.E., 1926, The Upper Palaeolithic Age in Britain (Monograph). SDV362526.
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Sources / Further Reading
SDV361984 | SMR record: Torbay HER record. |
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SDV363549 | Article in Monograph: Hicks, D. & Stevenson, A.. 2013. World Archaeology at the Pitt Rivers Museum, A Characterisation.. Palaeolithic British Isles. Hardback Volume. |
SDV362483 | Article in Serial: Pengelly, W.. 1870. Transactions of the Devonshire Association. . 4 part 1. p.77-80. |
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SDV362525 | Monograph: Bonsall, C.. 1977. Gazetteer of Upper Palaeolithic Sites. p.418. |
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SDV362526 | Monograph: Garrod, D.A.E.. 1926. The Upper Palaeolithic Age in Britain. . |
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Associated Monuments
MDV9623 | Related to: CAVE in the Parish of (Monument) |
Associated Finds
- FDV7056 - MAMMAL REMAINS (Lower Palaeolithic to Upper Palaeolithic - 500000 BC to 10001 BC)
Associated Events
- EDV7841 - Finds Salvage by W. Pengelly - March 1861
Date Last Edited: | Feb 7 2020 10:50AM |
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