Archaeologists Uncover Prehistoric Secrets in Welsh Castle Cave
Archaeologists are preparing for an extensive exploration of a "truly remarkable" Welsh cave that once served as a home for a hippopotamus roaming Wales approximately 120,000 years ago. This significant site also contains compelling evidence of early prehistoric human activity, making it a crucial archive for understanding Britain's ancient past.
Funding Secured for Five-Year Investigation
The University of Aberdeen has secured funding to lead a comprehensive five-year investigation into Wogan Cavern, located beneath Pembroke Castle in west Wales. Accessible via a spiral staircase, this enormous cave was previously thought to have been largely excavated by Victorians, leading to assumptions that little archaeological material remained. However, recent small-scale excavations between 2021 and 2024 have revealed abundant evidence of both human and animal visits spanning over 100,000 years, with much of the cave's ancient sediments found to be intact.
A Once-in-a-Lifetime Discovery
Researchers now assert that Wogan Cavern is rapidly emerging as one of the most important prehistoric archives in Britain. Dr Rob Dinnis, who directed the initial excavations and will lead the ambitious project for the University of Aberdeen, emphasized the site's uniqueness. "Despite the limited work done so far, we can already say that Wogan Cavern is a truly remarkable site," he stated. "Not only is there extremely rare evidence for early Homo sapiens, there are also hints at even earlier human occupation, probably by Neanderthals. There is no other site like it in Britain – it is a once‑in‑a‑lifetime discovery."
Insights into Climate Change and Human History
The larger-scale excavations planned could provide valuable insights into past climate change, extinct species, and the multiple periods when humans inhabited the cave. Dr Dinnis elaborated on the potential findings: "We are optimistic that the cave can chart a long sequence of human activity, from hunter-gatherers living there immediately after the last Ice Age around 11,500 years ago, back to Britain's earliest Homo sapiens between 45,000 and 35,000 years ago, and maybe also earlier traces likely left by Neanderthals. We have also found hippo bones, which probably date to the last interglacial period, around 120,000 years ago. The site could therefore tell us about how multiple changes in climate and environment affected people living there over 100,000 years or more."
Scientific Techniques and Collaborative Efforts
The project, funded by the Calleva Foundation, will involve researchers from the University of Aberdeen collaborating with other leading specialists across Britain and Europe. Professor Kate Britton, a specialist in science-based archaeology at the University of Aberdeen, highlighted the unique opportunities presented by Wogan Cavern: "Wogan Cavern provides a unique chance to use all the scientific techniques now available to archaeologists. Because the bones are well preserved, we can learn a lot about past environments and ecosystems, and do high-resolution scientific dating. Furthermore, pilot studies have shown that ancient DNA is preserved, in both the bones and the cave sediments."
New Chapter for Pembroke Castle
For Pembroke Castle, the birthplace of Henry Tudor and already a popular tourist attraction, this project marks an exciting new chapter in its storied history. Dr Jonquil Mogg, the newly appointed collections manager at the castle, noted: "Pembroke Castle has long been a very important part of Welsh and British history. Wogan Cavern has the potential to also establish it as a place of huge significance to British archaeology." Castle manager Jon Williams described the news as "incredibly exciting," adding, "We have watched with great interest as Wogan Cavern has started to reveal its secrets – it's very different from the medieval history we usually deal with at the castle. We are thrilled that work on this wonderful cave will continue – we very much look forward to working more with Rob and his team, and securing the collection for the people of Pembroke, Wales and beyond."
New excavations are scheduled to begin at the end of May, promising to unveil further secrets from this prehistoric archive and enhance our understanding of early human and animal life in Wales.
