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
Badger Hole lies c.20m up the west face of Warton Crag. It occupies a
prominent position c.5m below the surface of the plateau with commanding
views over the reclaimed salt marsh of Morecambe Bay. The cave consists of a
single chamber, about 5m long by 3m wide, with a partially blocked passage
leading inward. The mouth of the cave is relatively low and looks out onto a
platform approximately 6m long and 1.5m wide. Excavations in the mouth of the
cave and the chamber have uncovered material from a number of periods,
including the Roman and the Late Upper Palaeolithic. The latter consisted of
lithic artefacts, but no faunal remains. Further archaeological deposits
survive in the area of the entrance platform and cemented to the walls of the
main chamber. The scheduling includes the cave and the deposits which extend
in an arc of 1.5m out beyond the cave entrance.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13252
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
