Scheduled MonumentsWalesHoyle Mouth Cave
Prehistoric · Cave

Hoyle Mouth Cave

Pembrokeshire, Wales
Cadw SAM PE427
Period
Prehistoric
Site type
Cave
Broad class
Monument
Nation
Wales
Boundary

Scheduled area

© Mapbox · © OpenStreetMap contributors · Boundary data © Cadw

Overview

History & significance

Hoyle Mouth Cave is a prehistoric rock shelter located in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which has yielded archaeological evidence of human occupation spanning the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. The site comprises a natural cave formation that served as a habitation and refuge for hunter-gatherer and early farming communities, with artefactual material including worked flint and pottery indicating sustained use across several millennia. Excavations at the cave have recovered deposits that contribute to understanding of settlement patterns and subsistence practices in prehistoric Wales. The site remains significant for its stratigraphic sequence and the material culture it has produced, which illuminates the transition from hunter-gatherer to agricultural economies in the region.

Hoyle Mouth Cave is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference PE427. View the official record →

About this monument

Questions & answers

What is Hoyle Mouth Cave?

Hoyle Mouth Cave is a prehistoric rock shelter located in Pembrokeshire, Wales, which has yielded archaeological evidence of human occupation spanning the Mesolithic and Neolithic periods. It is designated a Scheduled Ancient Monument by Cadw under reference PE427.

What period does Hoyle Mouth Cave date from?

Hoyle Mouth Cave dates from the prehistoric period, and is classified as a cave. It is one of over 32,000 scheduled monuments protected across Britain.

Who is responsible for protecting Hoyle Mouth Cave?

Hoyle Mouth 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 PE427.

What other scheduled monuments are near Hoyle Mouth Cave?

Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including First World War Practice Trenches, Penally Range (1.8 km), Whitewell (2.1 km), The Old Palace, Lydstep (3.2 km).

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