Summary
Reynard's Cave is a natural cave behind a natural arch, high up on the Derbyshire bank of Dovedale. Excavations in 1959 indicated that the cave was used as a temporary shelter during the Neolithic, Roman and Medieval periods.
Identification Images (0)
Monument Types
- CAVE (Early Neolithic to Medieval - 4000 BC to 1539 AD)
Description
The cave is a natural feature behind a natural arch high up in the Derbyshire bank of the Dove gorge. The Ordnance Survey record the dimensions of the entrance as being 5.0m wide with the cave running horizontally into the rock for about 7.0m (OS card, field investigator 20/05/66).
[1] Excavation of the cave in 1959 revealed evidence of its use as a temporary shelter (rather than a permanent habitation site) in the Neolithic, Roman, and Medieval periods (see OS card). This was partially concluded based on the sparisty of finds, and the lack of a hearth. Neolithic finds consisted of two flint scrapers and two sherds of pottery one with rim decoration similar to Ebbsfleet ware. Romano-British material included a bronze fibula, an Ox goad and 2nd to 4th century pottery, mostly Castor ware. A coin of Henry III, a few other medieval objects, undated pottery fragments, and pieces of worked bone and iron were also found. There was no sign of a hearth (OS). Small sherd with roughly scored rim from Reynard's Cave was listed under "pottery with Hallstatt influence" (Challis & Harding, 1975 - see ENA1078). The finds from this excavation are thought to be held at Buxton Museum.
[2] In 1986 the NT field officer noted a jumble of rocks and debris stretching down the path, considering this to be spoil from the 1959 excavation, although the OS did not think so in 1966.
[3] The cave is a wintertime bat roosting site (NT Biological Survey 1983).
During the April 1992 visit to the site by the Trent and Peak Archaeological Trust, three further cave sites were discovered in the immediate vicinity of Reynard's Cave, all of which have well-preserved silt deposits on the cave floors. Each of these caves potentially contains further archaeological deposits, and efforts should be made to safeguard their present condition. Although not specified by the archaeologists who visited the site, the three 'new' caves probably lie NW of Reynard's Cave.
[4] Between September and October 2013 an archaeological excavation was undertaken at Reynard's Cave by the University of Leicester Archaeological Services, the National Trust and the Defence Archaeology Group. The excavation results demonstrate that since the prehistoric period the cave site has been, and remains to this day, a significant landmark and a focal point of activity within the Dovedale landscape (see ENA8545 for more details).
References
- SNA66992 - Report: Alice Ullathorne (Peak District National Park). 2004. National Trust South Peak Estate Survey: Area 3 - Dovedale South (Vol 2: Site Details & Management Recommendations). p.245.
- SNA67033 - Report: Univeristy of Leicester Archaeological Services. 2014. Archaeological Excavation at Reynard's Kitchen, Dovedale.
- SZE2824 - Collection: National Trust. The National Trust Archaeological Survey Sites and Monuments Record Data Prinouts - Dovedale, South .
- SZE3253 - Unpublished document: Beamish, H. & Smith, L. (National Trust). 1985. National Trust Archaeological Survey: The South Peak Estate. p.5.
- SZE5001 - Collection: National Trust. The National Trust Sites and Monuments Record Data Input Forms - Dovedale, South Peak Estate.
- SZE52 - Collection: Peak National Park. Derbyshire Peak Park Sites and Monuments Record Cards - Dovedale.
- SZE7787 - Article in serial: J H Kelly. 1960. Excavation of Reynard's Cave, Dovedale. Derbyshire Archaeological Journal; Volume 80 (1960). DAJ; Vol 80; pp.117-123.
Designations
None Recorded
Other Statuses and References
- HER/SMR Reference (External): 2220
- National Monuments Record Reference: SK15SW69
- National Park
- Site of Special Scientific Interest (Geological & Biologi)
Associated Events
- ENA1078 - Archaeological Intervention, Excavation of Reynard's Cave, Dovedale (1959) (Ref: 6798)
- ENA1079 - Archaeological Intervention, Excavation of Reynard's Cave, Dovedale, 1959 (Ref: 6799)
- ENA8461 - Field Survey, NT Archaeological Survey of the Dovedale Estate
- ENA8545 - Archaeological Intervention, Excavation of Reynard's Kitchen Cave, Dovedale, 2013
Associated Finds
None Recorded
Related Records
None Recorded