The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
Historic Environment Record
 

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Reindeer Rock Art, Cathole Cave

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 07959w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Ilston
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS5377090020
Site Type (preferred type first) : PALAEOLITHIC ROCK CARVING
Status : Scheduled Monument

Summary :
In September 2010, an engraving was found, possibly a reindeer, at the back of Cathole Cave on the Gower Peninsula. It was engraved on a vertical panel inside a discrete niche, approximately 10.5m from the cave entrance, northeast of the main gallery (Nash, 2012).

Description :
In September 2010, an engraving was found, possibly a reindeer, at the back of Cathole Cave on the Gower Peninsula. It was engraved on a vertical panel inside a discrete niche, approximately 10.5m from the cave entrance, northeast of the main gallery.

The engraving measures at 15 x 11cm and was likely carved by a pointed flint awl-like tool. The engraving has a number of characteristics that resemble other carvings throughout Europe including an elongated torso filled with vertical and diagonal lines. Some of these internal diagonal lines extend below the torso to form three of the four legs. On the left side of the torso, a head or muzzle is incorporated, with a thin rectangular block with 3 lines forming a stylised antler set.

In April 2011, members of the NERC-Open University Uranium series Facility extracted samples from the surface of the engraving for chronometric surveying to find a date. A date of 12,572 + 600 years BP was obtained. In July 2011, another sample was taken from flowstone of the left of the muzzle giving an age of 14,505 + 560 years BP. The sample provides evidence of the dating of flowstone development (Nash, G. 2012).

Sources :
Nash, G. , 2012 , Brief Note of the Recent Discovery of Upper Paleolithic Rock Art at Cathole Cave on the Gower Peninsula. , Archaeology in Wales : 51 : 111-114
Nash, G. , 2015 , Digital photograph (1); Reindeer rock art at Cathole Cave
Walker, E.A, Case, D., Ingrem, C., Jones, J.R., & Mourne, R. , 2014 , Excavations at Cathole Cave, Gower, Swansea , Proceedings of the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society : 26(2) : 131-169

Events :
E004050 : Brief Note on the Recent Discovery of Upper Paleolithic Rock Art at Cathole Cave on the Gower Peninsula (year : 2011)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 00231w

Compiled date : 09-02-2015


Images :



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