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Paviland Cave is a prehistoric cave site located in Wales and protected as a scheduled ancient monument by Cadw under reference GM504. The cave is situated within Dinantian limestone geology, with bedrock composed of undifferentiated Dinantian rocks formed during the Mississippian period. These ancient limestones, interspersed with subordinate sandstone and argillaceous deposits, create the natural cavern system that has preserved evidence of human activity spanning thousands of years. The limestone landscape surrounding the site is characteristic of south Wales's geological heritage.
The cave's position within this limestone bedrock has created conditions favourable for the preservation of archaeological deposits. The slightly acidic percolation through the overlying rocks has nonetheless allowed significant organic remains to survive within the cave's protected interior. The combination of the specific local geology and the cave's sheltered environment has made Paviland an important location for understanding prehistoric occupation patterns in Wales.
Human activity at the site extends back to the Palaeolithic period, making Paviland one of Wales's most significant prehistoric archaeological locations. The cave's deep stratigraphy reflects repeated use and habitation across extended timescales. The survival of material culture within this limestone cave has provided crucial evidence for interpreting the lifeways of prehistoric peoples who utilised natural rock shelters and caves as occupation sites throughout the region.
Paviland Cave is a scheduled monument protected by Cadw under reference GM504. View the official record →
Paviland Cave is a prehistoric cave site located in Wales and protected as a scheduled ancient monument by Cadw under reference GM504.
Paviland 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.
Paviland 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 GM504.
Several scheduled monuments lie within 10 km, including Paviland Camp (0.1 km), Horse Cliff Camp (0.3 km), Cave 40m SE of Deborah's Hole (0.5 km).
This page is just one thread. A full Aubrey report pulls together 13 strands of Paviland 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.
Paviland Cave stands on Dinantian Rocks (Undifferentiated), bedrock that formed in the Mississippian. The rock here is limestone with subordinate sandstone and argillaceous rocks.