Jubilee Cave, Langcliffe Scar

Reasons for Designation

Palaeolithic caves and rock shelters provide some of the earliest evidence of human activity in the period from about 400,000 to 10,000 years ago. The sites, all natural topographic features, occur mainly in hard limestone in the north and west of the country, although examples also exist in the softer rocks of south-east England. Evidence for human occupation is often located near the cave entrances, close to the rock walls or on the exterior platforms. The interiors sometimes served as special areas for disposal and storage or were places where material naturally accumulated from the outside. Because of the special conditions of deposition and preservation, organic and other fragile materials often survive well and in stratigraphic association. Caves and rock shelters are therefore of major importance for understanding this period. Due to their comparative rarity, their considerable age and their longevity as a monument type, all examples with good survival of deposits are considered to be nationally important.

The Palaeolithic caves of the Yorkshire Dales belong to a major regional group of which Jubilee Cave is an important example due to the survival of substantial intact deposits both inside and outside the cave.

Details

Jubilee Cave is situated on the north side of a small dry valley on the edge of Langcliffe Scar near Settle, a few hundred metres north of Victoria Cave. The cave is orientated SW-NE and lies 10m above the valley floor and close to the top of the overlying flat plateau. The cave consists of one main passage half choked by boulders and roof fall with a double entrance at the south- west end. Near the mouth, the main cave passage divides into two parallel tunnels, separated by a thin cave wall. There is a gap or window in the cave wall allowing access between the parallel tunnels. The mouth consists of two entrances side by side with several subsidiary fissures appearing to connect with the interior. Outside the cave is a very extensive platform which fans out in front of the entrances to a distance of about 30m. Archaeological investigations have occurred periodically at Jubilee Cave in the late 19th century, when Victoria Cave was being excavated, and in the early 20th century. In addition to Iron Age and Roman material, artefacts of Mesolithic and Late Palaeolithic type have been reported from the cave. Although the cave itself has been investigated as far back as the blocked passageways, the areas around the cave mouth and the outside entrance platform contain considerable amounts of deposit which have been left undisturbed beneath a cover of excavation tip. The monument therefore includes the cave extending back 20m, and the deposits extending outwards from the two entrances in an arc of 30m.

MAP EXTRACT The site of the monument is shown on the attached map extract.

Legacy

The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.

Legacy System number:

13247

Legacy System:

RSM

Sources

Books and journals
Campbell, J B, The Upper Palaeolithic of Britain, (1977)

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