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.
Details
Gough's Old Cave is situated in a rift c.10m up the left bank of Cheddar
Gorge. It consists of a narrow gated entrance, c.3m high and 1m wide, leading
to a chamber measuring c.10.5m x 4.5m. A second entrance, c.5m wide and 2m
high, opens into the back of this chamber from a parallel rift in the cliff
face. The main chamber leads via a collapsed flight of steps to an inner
series of chambers and passages which were used as a show cave in the
nineteenth century. The inner series was opened by blasting in 1877 and,
prior to this date, was inaccessible. It is therefore unlikely to contain
archaeological deposits and has been omitted from the scheduling together with
the artificial and constructional features associated with the show cave.
Partial excavations at the cave by Gough, between 1875 and 1880, and by the
University of Bristol Spelaeological Society uncovered Iron Age and
Romano-British material overlying a tufaceous stalagmite that rested on
Palaeolithic deposits. The latter contained lithic artefacts and cut-marked
horse bone dating to c.12,500 radiocarbon years ago. Considerable areas of
undisturbed deposit occur in the chamber and in the entrances. In the latter
areas, original deposits occur beneath excavation spoil and extend outside the
cave as far as the base of the steep talus slope which forms the main present
access to the cave. The monument includes the cave and all its deposits as
far back as the made steps and outside the entrances as far as the base of the
talus.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13260
Legacy System:
RSM
Sources
Books and journals
Legal
This monument is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 as amended as it appears to the Secretary of State to be of national importance. This entry is a copy, the original is held by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport.
End of official list entry
