Kent's Cavern — Torquay
Kent's Cavern — Torquay Complex
Palaeolithic (500k BP–12000 CE)·Acheulean to Creswellian·🇬🇧 Devon, South West England, United Kingdom
About
About Kent's Cavern — Torquay
Kent's Cavern — Torquay in Devon, South West England, United Kingdom is a Palaeolithic (500k BP–12000 CE) cave attributed to Acheulean to Creswellian culture. Detailed survey and excavation document architectural phasing. The site includes a principal feature and ancillary settlement or ceremonial elements.
Why it mattersKey Acheulean to Creswellian site illustrating Palaeolithic (500k BP–12000 CE) cave traditions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Kent's Cavern — Torquay
- 02Function of ancillary enclosures
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for Acheulean to Creswellian
- 02Defensive and ritual focus
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. 500000 BP natural cave, occupation 40000 BCE
- Period
- Palaeolithic (500k BP–12000 CE)
- Culture
- Acheulean to Creswellian
- Purpose
- Longest Palaeolithic cave sequence in Britain 500k years
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 500000 BP natural cave, occupation 40000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1000 CE
Abandonment or reuse
On the ground
Structures & features
50.4688° N · 3.5022° W · 358 m · 3 mapped features
- Kent's Cavern — Torquay — Principal FeaturestructurePrimary cave feature at Kent's Cavern — Torquay50.4696° N · 3.5014° W
- Kent's Cavern — Torquay — Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary complex at Kent's Cavern — Torquay with settlement traces50.4681° N · 3.5028° W
- Kent's Cavern — Torquay — Outlierrock artOutlier alignment or rock art at Kent's Cavern — Torquay50.4699° N · 3.5032° W
Gallery