Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole
Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole Complex
Upper Palaeolithic (33000 BCE)·Aurignacian / Gravettian·🇬🇧 Swansea, Gower Peninsula, Wales, United Kingdom
About
About Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole
Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole in Swansea, Gower Peninsula, Wales, United Kingdom is a Upper Palaeolithic (33000 BCE) cave attributed to Aurignacian / Gravettian culture. Detailed survey and excavation document architectural phasing. The site includes a principal feature and ancillary settlement or ceremonial elements.
Why it mattersKey Aurignacian / Gravettian site illustrating Upper Palaeolithic (33000 BCE) cave traditions.
Open questions
Mysteries & theories
Mysteries
- 01Chronology of Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole
- 02Function of ancillary enclosures
Theories
- 01Ceremonial centre for Aurignacian / Gravettian
- 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. 33000 BP occupation, burial 28000 BCE
- Period
- Upper Palaeolithic (33000 BCE)
- Culture
- Aurignacian / Gravettian
- Purpose
- Cave burial of Red Lady (young male) with ochre
- Excavation
- Partially excavated
c. 33000 BP occupation, burial 28000 BCE
Initial construction
c. 1000 CE
Abandonment or reuse
On the ground
Structures & features
51.5472° N · 4.2548° W · 8 m · 3 mapped features
- Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole — Principal FeaturestructurePrimary cave feature at Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole51.5480° N · 4.2540° W
- Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole — Ancillary ComplexcomplexAncillary complex at Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole with settlement traces51.5465° N · 4.2554° W
- Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole — Outlierrock artOutlier alignment or rock art at Paviland Cave — Goat's Hole51.5483° N · 4.2558° W
Gallery