Spring Squill Cave - Yellow Top, Paviland Cliff, South Gower Coastal Properties

Summary

A small cave on the side of a dry valley east of Foxhole Slade approached only by a difficult cliff traverse. Excavated by Mel Davies in May 1985 (Davies 1985 p5-9) who found a pig humerus and a flint scraper underneath layers of modern animal bones. Artifacts now in the possession of Mel Davies.

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Description

A small cave on the east side of a dry valley east of Foxhole Slade approached only by a difficult cliff traverse. Mel Davies excavated the cave in May 1985 apparently to check if the site was suitable bat hibernacula (Davies 1985 p5-9). A pig humerus found beneath layers of modern animal bones was taken as evidence of an archaeological deposit and a flint scraper was found at a depth of 28cm. The bones and scraper are now in the possession of Mel Davies.

2003/4 survey
A small cave located on the E side of a dry valley to the E of Foxhole Slade. Two entrances have been recorded, the main facing SW 1.2m wide, currently 1.5m high. This opens into a passage 1.5m wide and 2.2m long. A 2nd passage leads to the NW but is blocked by earth and stones. A 3rd passage leads off to the NE 0.4m wide but is unexplored.

M.Davies excavated the site in 1985 whilst checking for bat hibernacula. 2 layers were noted, the 1st consisting of sub angular limestone in a dry brown cave earth 0.2m thick. The 2nd layer was similar but a darker 'chocolate' brown cave earth 0.35m thick. Around 0.6m squared of deposit was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.55m without reaching bedrock. The 1st layer contained recent animal bones, including bird, fox, rabbit, sheep, badger and a cows horn core.

From the second layer came further animal bones but also a flint scraper, which was considered to be Neolithic in date, described as a lunate flint scraper with mottled grey patination. Apparently also recovered from this layer was a white patinated flint flake. The bones were identified as coming from at least 2 young boars, at least 2 wolves, possibly 2 cattle, a possible red deer (which may be Upper Palaeolithic in date), sheep, or goat, bird, fish, fox or badger and shells including patella, periwinkles and mussel.

The cave earth is considerably disturbed and has been a long tenanted fox hole, explaining the large numbers of modern animal bones. A large bank of disturbed reddish brown cave earth with large angular stones is visible as up cast, blocking most of the passage. Lying amongst this are wooden planks and a wooden board, presumably to block the cave and prevent it being used as a foxhole. The cave earth is still strewn with large numbers of recent animal bones and fox droppings are still visible, indicating its continued occupation.

Plans and details of the excavation are apparently given in the newsletter of the Pengelly cave Studies Trust 46, 16985.

Painted on the E wall of the cave is the number 34, presumably put there by Davies who also retained his finds.

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