The Glamorgan-Gwent Archaeological Trust
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Hound's Hole Cave; Paviland Cave Complex

Primary Reference Number (PRN) : 00117w
Trust : Glamorgan Gwent
Community : Rhossili
Unitary authority : Swansea
NGR : SS43688588
Site Type (preferred type first) : Palaeolithic Burial
Status : SSSI

Summary :
Cave with Palaeolithic occupation material, lying to the west of Goat's Hole Cave. Finds included human jawbones and teeth, flint flakes, etc. of unknown date. Possibly Pleistocene fauna and neolithic artifacts, but their significance is obscure in the absence of fuller details. Finds at RISW, Swansea. Cave 31c of the mainland caves recorded by Davies (see bibliography).

Description :
Hounds Hole cave, sometimes referred to as Paviland West cave, lies approximately 45m to the west of Goat's Hole cave. This cave was also excavated by Buckland in 1823, who found mainly faunal remains, including cave bear, deer, cattle and domestic horse. In 1912 it was excavated by Vivian who found more faunal remains, mostly in small bits, including wolf and cattle, but no archaeological remains.

The cave was also excavated in 1944 by Allena and Rutter and investigated in the 1980's by M. Davies and finally in 1997 by Aldhouse-Green. The latest excavation revealed a complex quaternary stratigraphic sequence and recovered more cold climate fauna and also a possible upper Palaeolithic flint blade. The only other archaeology to be recovered were two early 4th century coins, found in the spoil from Buckland's excavations. Davies, writing in 1885 claimed this cave was used as a smuggler's store.

Finds included human jawbones and teeth, flint flakes, etc. of unknown date. Possibly Pleistocene fauna and neolithic artifacts, but their significance is obscure in the absence of fuller details.
Finds at RISW, Swansea.

Sources :
Davies, M. , 1993 , The Caves of the South Gower Coast: An Archaeological Assessment
Davies, M. , 1993 , The Caves of the South Gower Coast: An Archaeological Assessment
Dillon E and Latham J , 1986 , The South West Gower Properties - Part One
01/PM Desc Text/RCAHMW/Glam Invent volI ptI p15
02/PM Desc Text/Oldham J/1986/Caves of Gower p74

Events :
E000560 : HOUND'S HOLE CAVE; PAVILAND CAVE COMPLEX, VISIT, 1823 (year : 1823)
E003821 : The Caves of the South Gower Coast: An Archaeological Assessment (year : 1993)
E003821 : The Caves of the South Gower Coast: An Archaeological Assessment (year : 1993)
E003894 : South West Gower National Trust Properties (year : 1986)
E002399 : Uplands Survey in Neath and Port Talbot region SUR (year : 1998)

Related records
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 4802w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 4672w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 4673w
GGAT Historic Environment Record (HER) 4674w

Compiled date :


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