CPAT Regional Historic Environment Record
The following information is from the on-line database 'Archwilio'.
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Cae-Gwyn cave

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 102159
Trust : Clwyd Powys
Community : Tremeirchion
Unitary authority : Denbighshire
NGR : SJ08527244
Site Type (preferred type first) : PALAEOLITHIC CAVE OCCUPATION
Status : scheduled monument

Description :
Cave extensively investigated from 1883-87. Artefacts found mostly just outside the entrance dated to middle Aurignacian period to middle Aurignacian period. Radiocarbon date of 16050BC obtained from mammoth bone.

Appeared as described above. Cave entrance was blocked up at time of visit with planks and chicken wire. (CCC, 1982)

As described in 1982 visit. (CCC, 1988)

Scheduling revised 22/08/90.

In Denbighshire Record Office (storage in advance of museum facilities) are 12 flints from the Pennant Collection (Figgis 1999, 21).

Another scraper in the Natural History Museum (Figgis 1999, 110). (CPAT Lithics, 2001)

A detailed description of the work carried out and the finds recovered is given by Davies (1949, 338-43).

Ebbs' website provides the following further information regarding this cave:
This cave is also known as Bryn Bella Cave, length 46m. Large entrance passage leads to junction with a smaller passage. Left goes 16m to a wall of rocks. Right gets too tight after 16m. Described as having been used as a dumping place for rubbish over the years and is now almost ruined (Cave Research Group Vol 12, No 2, 1970).
(https://sites.google.com/site/cavesofnortheastwales, accessed December 2014) (Hankinson 2015).

Sources :
Anon , 1885 , title unknown - Cae-Gwyn cave
Burnham, H., 1995 , A Guide to Ancient and Historic Wales: Clwyd and Powys
Cadw , 1985 , Cadw Field Monument Wardens Report - Fl070(DEN)
Cadw , 1990 , Scheduling map - Fl070(DEN)
Cadw , 1997 , Scheduling map - Fl070(DEN)
Campbell, J B , 1977 , Upper Palaeolithic Britain 2
Clwyd Archaeology Service , 1982 , Site visit record - PRN102159
Clwyd Archaeology Service , 1988 , Site visit record - PRN102159
Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust , 2002 , CPAT Project Archive - lithics
Davies, E., 1949 , The Prehistoric and Roman Remains of Flintshire
Garrod, D A E , 1926 , The Upper Palaeolithic Age in Britain
Grimes, W F , 1951 , Prehistory of Wales
Hankinson, R , 2015 , Caves of North-East Wales: Archaeological Assessment 2014-15 ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)
Hicks, H , 1886 , Results of some recent researches in some bone caves in North Wales , Journal of the Geological Society of London : 42 : 3-11
Hicks, H , 1888 , title unknown - Ffynnon Beuno Cave
Jackson, J W , 1932 , Visit to Cefn and other local caves
Ordnance Survey , 1959 , OS record card SJ 07 SE 11
Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Wales , 1912 , Inventory of the Ancient Monuments in Wales and Monmouth II - County of Flintshire
Silvester, R. J., & Owen, W. J , 2002 , Early Prehistoric Settlement in Mid and North-East Wales: the Lithic Evidence ( © Clwyd Powys Archaeological Trust)
Taylor, J A , 1980 , Culture and Environment in Prehistoric Wales
Valdemar, A E & Jones, R D , 1970 , An initial report on the archaeological and palaeontological caves and rock shelters in North Wales , Transactions of the Cave Research Group of Great Britain : 12 : 99-107
Wheeler, R E M , 1925 , Prehistoric and Roman Wales

Events :
39947 : Cae-Gwyn cave, excavation, 1883 (year : 1883-87)
113237 : Early Prehistoric Settlement in Mid and North East Wales: The Lithic Evidence, desk-based assessment 2002 (year : 2002)
132573 : Caves Scheduling Enhancement Programme (year : 2014-17)
130439 : Caves Scheduling Enhancement Programme follow up, desk based assessment 2014-15 (year : 2014-15)

Related records

Compiled date : 31-07-1986


Images :



Archaeological data, from the Historic Environment Record, supplied by The Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust in partnership with Local Authorities, Cadw and the partners of ENDEX © CPAT, 2025 (and in part © Crown, 2025). It is intended to be used for private research only and is not for use as part of commercial projects. If you wish to use this information for publication in printed or multimedia form or to compile resources for commercial use, prior permission must be obtained in writing. Use of this information is subject to the terms and conditions of access to HER data published on CPAT's website. Please contact the HER if you have any further questions regarding this information. Please quote the Primary Reference Numbers (PRNs) in any correspondence.

March 30, 2025, 4:36 am - File produced for Archwilio from CPAT's Regional HER.
Clwyd-Powys Archaeological Trust, The Offices, Coed y Dinas, Welshpool, Powys, SY21 8RP
tel (01938) 553670, email her@cpat.org.uk, website www.cpat.org.uk

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