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During a family holiday in 2010, archaeologist John Bolton made an unexpected discovery that has the potential to dramatically alter the understanding of Britain’s prehistoric past. While visiting Pembroke Castle, an 11th-century fortress in Wales, Bolton learned about a cave lying beneath the castle grounds called Wogan Cavern. Intrigued by the lack of prior excavation work in the cave, he urged Dr. Rob Dinnis from the University of Aberdeen to investigate further, leading to a series of remarkable discoveries.
Initial small-scale digs have revealed exceptionally rare evidence of early human activity as well as animal remains, including the bones of a hippopotamus that once inhabited Wales around 120,000 years ago. These findings suggest that the site preserves a record dating well before the last Ice Age, offering valuable insights into how species adapted to climatic changes and how early humans managed their environment. Encouraged by these results, the University of Aberdeen is now preparing to conduct a more extensive five-year excavation project aimed at uncovering further secrets about prehistoric life.
Bolton described the cave as “huge” with archaeological potential unlike other sites in the UK, emphasizing that minimal disturbance in the past preserved its contents. He explained how he noticed an old calcite floor within the cavern, indicating that little material had been removed previously. The cave had long been assumed to be depleted during Victorian-era excavations, common for many similar sites. However, Dr. Dinnis highlighted that Wogan Cavern is unique because “to find one where we have quite a lot still in place, not excavated out, is completely unique,” enabling researchers to extract DNA from bones and sediments to learn more about who inhabited the area and when.
Dr. Jonquil Mogg of the Pembroke Castle Trust expressed amazement at the site’s preservation, calling the discoveries “completely mind-blowing.” She noted that the findings have the potential to deepen understanding of Britain’s prehistory by unlocking information lost from other sites. One particularly notable artifact is a woolly rhino tooth estimated to be at least 35,000 years old, which Mogg describes as her favorite find. The Pembroke Castle Trust has committed to curating and safeguarding the collection locally, ensuring that these extraordinary remnants of ancient life remain accessible to the people of Pembroke, Wales, and beyond
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