Gough's Cave
Palaeolithic–Mesolithic (50000–6000 BCE)·European Neolithic·🇬🇧 Somerset, Cheddar Gorge, United Kingdom
About
About Gough's Cave
Gough's Cave in Somerset, Cheddar Gorge, United Kingdom is a major Palaeolithic to Holocene cave and fissure system renowned for stratified deposits spanning over 40,000 years. The site preserves stone tools, faunal remains, human fossils and occupation horizons in magnolian limestone. It provides a key sequence for understanding human evolution, climate change and symbolic behaviour in northern Europe.
Why it mattersKey European Neolithic site in Somerset, Cheddar Gorge.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Palaeolithic occupation and symbolic behaviour
- 02Climate and sea-level context for deposits
Theories
- 01Long-term ritual and economic use of cave landscape
Theories are interpretations, not findings. The seal above tells you how much scholarly weight the place carries.
History
How it came to be
- Built
- c. 3000 BCE
- Period
- Palaeolithic–Mesolithic (50000–6000 BCE)
- Culture
- European Neolithic
- Purpose
- Ritual and funerary monument
- Excavation
- Excavated
c. 3000 BCE
Initial construction and primary use
20th century
Modern archaeological investigation and conservation
On the ground
Structures & features
51.2811° N · 2.7650° W · 80 m · 2 mapped features
Gough's Cave Main Chamber
structurePrincipal archaeological-wonder feature at Gough's Cave, well-preserved structure with diagnostic finds
51.2816° N · 2.7645° WGough's Cave Secondary Feature
structureSecondary archaeological-wonder element illustrating site complexity and reuse
51.2807° N · 2.7642° W
Gallery