Does a cave beneath Pembroke Castle hold key to fate of early Britons?
A cave beneath Pembroke Castle in Wales, Wogan Cavern, unveils prehistoric treasures like ancient bones and tools. Scientists aim to understand Neanderthals' presence and Homo sapiens' settlement in Britain. Excavation promises valuable insights.
Read original article
A cave beneath Pembroke Castle in Wales, known as Wogan Cavern, has revealed a treasure trove of prehistoric material including ancient bones and stone tools left by early Homo sapiens and possibly Neanderthals. Scientists hope this discovery will shed light on the settling of Britain in prehistoric times, including the end of Neanderthals' occupation around 40,000 years ago. The site, well-preserved with layers of bone, DNA, and proteins, presents a unique opportunity to understand how Neanderthals lived in Britain and how they were replaced by Homo sapiens. Unlike other prehistoric sites that were stripped of their materials, Wogan Cavern remains intact, offering a chance for modern technologies like sediment DNA analysis to provide insights into the interactions between Neanderthals and early humans. Researchers aim to use this technology to uncover details about population movements and the occupation of the cave over time, without the need for physical bones. The excavation at Wogan Cavern is expected to contribute significantly to our understanding of the prehistoric past in Britain.
Related
More evidence against the "ecocide" theory of Easter Island
A study led by archaeologist Carl Lipo challenges Easter Island's collapse narrative, suggesting sustainable population practices. AI analysis estimates lower population capacity, supporting sustainable agriculture theories and resilience against ecocide.
Fresh water on Earth emerged 500M years earlier than previously thought
Researchers at Curtin University discovered fresh water on Earth around four billion years ago, challenging existing theories. Analysis of ancient crystals suggests landmasses and fresh water played a crucial role in early life emergence. Published in Nature Geoscience.
Structures discovered in the Pacific could change our understanding of Earth
Researchers found unique structures in the Pacific Ocean challenging traditional beliefs about Earth's early history. Rock formations in South Africa and New Zealand suggest ancient seismic activities shaped the planet, potentially influencing the emergence of life.
The semiotics of barbed wire fence
A historical museum in Gothenberg, Nebraska, showcases a unique collection of ranch-specific barbed wire fences. The exhibit highlights the cultural and historical significance of barbed wire in land ownership and communication.
The Oldest Known Burial Site in the World Wasn't Created by Our Species
Paleontologists in South Africa unearthed the oldest burial site globally, revealing Homo naledi remains. Dating back to 200,000 BCE, this challenges human evolution beliefs, suggesting early complex behaviors and symbolic practices.
9 commentshttps://www.pembrokecastle.co.uk/events/view/archaeological-...
>From 17th June to 12th July there will be an archaeological excavation of Wogan Cavern taking place every day ... we are able to provide our castle visitors with some information on how things are progressing through our daily 'Cave Catchup' sessions. During these sessions a Castle Tour Guide will be in the Great Hall above the cave for approx one hour. So our visitors will be able to chat with the guide who will offer the latest information on the progress of the dig. There will also be the opportunity to see the dig site on a live video feed from the cave while the dig is in progress, and the chance to view replica artifacts of items identical to those that have been discovered at the site.
The obvious history you could see were the castles and walled towns. More recently, lots of ship building in the last 200 or so years, and plenty of WWII sites.
There are many other parts of Pembrokeshire with Stone Age sites that are well known, and there were clearly many people living in this area for a long time before even those later inhabitants
Very cool!
One hopes we will leave a few sites undisturbed so that 22nd+ century archaeologists can have a go with their fancy technologies.
https://www.theguardian.com/science/article/2024/jun/25/preh...
For medical diagnostics, we even had trouble with small samples of blood directly and reliably obtained and stored.
For sandy soils, it's hard to imagine layers remain distinct given the porosity.
Wet soils would invite all sorts of other life.
The article lists no papers. The lead "Dr Robert Dinnis" is listed as an "honorary" (i.e., not active) research fellow at the University of Aberdeen.
It's fun to think about, though.
Related
More evidence against the "ecocide" theory of Easter Island
A study led by archaeologist Carl Lipo challenges Easter Island's collapse narrative, suggesting sustainable population practices. AI analysis estimates lower population capacity, supporting sustainable agriculture theories and resilience against ecocide.
Fresh water on Earth emerged 500M years earlier than previously thought
Researchers at Curtin University discovered fresh water on Earth around four billion years ago, challenging existing theories. Analysis of ancient crystals suggests landmasses and fresh water played a crucial role in early life emergence. Published in Nature Geoscience.
Structures discovered in the Pacific could change our understanding of Earth
Researchers found unique structures in the Pacific Ocean challenging traditional beliefs about Earth's early history. Rock formations in South Africa and New Zealand suggest ancient seismic activities shaped the planet, potentially influencing the emergence of life.
The semiotics of barbed wire fence
A historical museum in Gothenberg, Nebraska, showcases a unique collection of ranch-specific barbed wire fences. The exhibit highlights the cultural and historical significance of barbed wire in land ownership and communication.
The Oldest Known Burial Site in the World Wasn't Created by Our Species
Paleontologists in South Africa unearthed the oldest burial site globally, revealing Homo naledi remains. Dating back to 200,000 BCE, this challenges human evolution beliefs, suggesting early complex behaviors and symbolic practices.