Scheduled MonumentsEnglandGough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge

Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge

England
List entry 1011925
Nation
England
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Historic England (NHLE)

Overview

History & significance

Gough's Cave is a limestone cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, which contains archaeological deposits spanning from the Upper Palaeolithic period through to the medieval period. The cave is particularly significant for its Upper Palaeolithic occupation, dated to approximately 12,000 years ago, and for artefacts recovered during excavations in the twentieth century, including evidence of early human activity and material culture. The site also yielded human remains, most notably the skeleton known as "Cheddar Man", dated to around 7,000 years ago, which provided important evidence for understanding Mesolithic populations in Britain. The cave itself forms part of the dramatic limestone gorge landscape and has been subject to archaeological investigation and public access for over a century.

Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1011925. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge?

Gough's Cave is a limestone cave in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, which contains archaeological deposits spanning from the Upper Palaeolithic period through to the medieval period. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1011925.

Who is responsible for protecting Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge?

Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, legally protected by Historic England (NHLE) — the body responsible for designating and safeguarding heritage sites in England. The official designation reference is 1011925.

What other scheduled monuments are near Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Romano-British settlement on Stoke Moor (5 km), Duck decoy east of Barrow Wood Lane (5.5 km), Westbury village cross (6.1 km).

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