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Gough's Cave is a substantial limestone cave system in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, formed through natural dissolution processes and containing deposits spanning multiple prehistoric periods. The cave is of particular archaeological significance for its Mesolithic occupation, notably the discovery of "Cheddar Man", a skeleton dating to approximately 7,150 years ago whose genetic analysis has provided important insights into post-glacial British populations. The cave also contains evidence of Upper Palaeolithic activity and later Neolithic use, with finds including flint tools, animal bones, and hearths indicating sustained human occupation across several millennia. The cave entrance and main chamber remain physically impressive features within the gorge landscape, and the site continues to yield archaeological data relevant to understanding early human settlement patterns in Britain.
Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge is a scheduled monument protected by Historic England under reference 1011925. View the official record →
Gough's Cave is a substantial limestone cave system in Cheddar Gorge, Somerset, formed through natural dissolution processes and containing deposits spanning multiple prehistoric periods. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Historic England (NHLE) under reference 1011925.
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.
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).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 15 strands of Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge'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.
Gough's Cave, Cheddar Gorge stands on Dinantian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Mississippian. The rock here is limestone with subordinate sandstone and argillaceous rocks.