© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw
Cat Hole Cave is a prehistoric cave located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference GM349. The cave is situated in bedrock composed of Dinantian limestone with subordinate sandstone and argillaceous rocks, geology that formed during the Mississippian period and now provides the natural framework for this archaeological site. The limestone karst landscape in which the cave developed was shaped over geological timescales, creating the conditions that preserved human occupation evidence within its chambers.
The cave's name reflects its historical significance as a place of human habitation and activity in prehistory. Limestone caves such as this were favoured shelter sites throughout the Palaeolithic and Mesolithic periods across Britain and Europe, offering protection from the elements whilst remaining accessible to populations exploiting the surrounding landscape. The specific geology of Dinantian limestone, with its tendency to form soluble cavities, created ideal conditions for cave formation and preservation of archaeological deposits.
As a protected monument under Cadw's stewardship, Cat Hole Cave remains an important resource for understanding prehistoric settlement patterns and behaviour in Wales. The cave's position within the wider Welsh limestone landscape connects it to other similar sites, together forming part of the archaeological evidence for early human presence in the region during the post-glacial period.
Cat Hole Cave is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM349. View the official record →
Cat Hole Cave is a prehistoric cave located in Wales and protected by Cadw under reference GM349.
Cat Hole Cave dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a cave. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across the UK.
Cat Hole Cave is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Cadw — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in Wales. The official designation reference is GM349.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Penmaen Burrows Church (2 km), Penmaen Burrows Burial Chamber (2 km), Penmaen Burrows Ringwork (2 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Cat Hole Cave's history, each drawn from the record and mapped to the exact spot:
Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.
Cat Hole Cave stands on Dinantian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Mississippian. The rock here is limestone with subordinate sandstone and argillaceous rocks.