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
Dead Man's Cave is situated on the north side of a shallow gorge, lying above
Anston Brook and the Brantcliffe-Dinnington railway line and just below the
plateau. It consists of an entrance fissure, 2.5m wide and 1.5m high, leading
via a narrow passage to a chamber 4.5m long by 3m wide. The chamber contains
limestone blocks from roof fall. A narrow platform 3m wide exists outside the
entrance of the cave. Partial excavations carried out between 1967 and
c.1970 have revealed Roman artefacts and also material dating from the Later
Upper Palaeolithic. The latter comprises 21 lithic artefacts, including
points and straight backed pieces, and fragments of reindeer bone and antler
that have been radiocarbon dated to c.9850 years ago and may be associated
with the occupation evidence. Additional material is expected to survive
beneath the stalagmitic floor at the rear of the cave and also on the entrance
platform. Remnants of deposit also survive along the cave walls. The
scheduling includes the cave and the deposits from the back chamber to the
entrance and extending in a c.3m arc around the cave mouth.
Legacy
The contents of this record have been generated from a legacy data system.
Legacy System number:
13251
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
