Major Archaeological Excavations to Commence at Historic Welsh Cave Site
Archaeologists are preparing to embark on an extensive new phase of excavations at a remarkable cave in Wales that once served as a habitat for hippopotamuses roaming the region approximately 120,000 years ago. The University of Aberdeen has secured significant funding to spearhead a comprehensive five-year exploration of Wogan Cavern, located beneath Pembroke Castle.
Unearthing a Prehistoric Treasure Trove
Previously believed to have been largely excavated by Victorian enthusiasts, with little archaeological material remaining, Wogan Cavern has defied expectations. Preliminary small-scale digs conducted between 2021 and 2024 revealed an abundance of preserved evidence indicating human and animal activity spanning more than a century of millennia. Much of the cave's sedimentary layers remain astonishingly intact, positioning it as one of Britain's most crucial prehistoric archives.
Dr Rob Dinnis, who oversaw the initial investigations and will lead the forthcoming project, expressed profound enthusiasm. "Wogan Cavern is a truly remarkable site," he stated. "We have encountered extremely rare evidence of early Homo sapiens, alongside indications of even earlier occupation, likely by Neanderthals. There is no comparable site in Britain—it represents a once-in-a-lifetime discovery."
Insights into Ancient Climates and Extinct Species
The research team anticipates that larger-scale excavations will yield invaluable insights into past climate change, extinct species, and the multiple epochs during which humans inhabited the cave. Dr Dinnis elaborated on the site's potential: "We are optimistic that the cave can chronicle a long sequence of human activity, from hunter-gatherers residing there shortly after the last Ice Age around 11,500 years ago, back to Britain's earliest Homo sapiens between 45,000 and 35,000 years ago, and possibly earlier traces left by Neanderthals."
Notably, the discovery of hippopotamus bones, estimated to date from the last interglacial period roughly 120,000 years ago, underscores the cave's capacity to illuminate how numerous climatic and environmental shifts impacted its inhabitants over an immense timeframe exceeding 100,000 years.
Advanced Scientific Techniques and Collaborative Efforts
Funded by the Calleva Foundation, the project will unite researchers from the University of Aberdeen with other leading specialists across Britain and Europe. Professor Kate Britton, a specialist in science-based archaeology at the university, highlighted the unique opportunities presented by Wogan Cavern. "This site offers a rare chance to employ all contemporary scientific techniques available to archaeologists," she explained. "The excellent preservation of bones enables detailed studies of past environments and ecosystems, along with high-resolution scientific dating. Pilot studies have confirmed the preservation of ancient DNA in both bones and cave sediments."
The multidisciplinary team is eager to maximise learning about the cave and its early inhabitants—both animal and human—in the coming years.
A New Chapter for Pembroke Castle
For Pembroke Castle, renowned as the birthplace of Henry Tudor and a popular tourist destination, this project inaugurates an exhilarating new chapter in its rich history. Dr Jonquil Mogg, the newly appointed collections manager at the castle, remarked: "Pembroke Castle has long held immense significance in Welsh and British history. Wogan Cavern has the potential to further establish it as a site of paramount importance to British archaeology."
Castle manager Jon Williams described the development as "incredibly exciting," noting: "We have observed with great interest as Wogan Cavern began to unveil its secrets—it presents a very different narrative from the medieval history typically associated with the castle. We are delighted that work on this extraordinary cave will continue and look forward to collaborating closely with Rob and his team, ensuring the collection is preserved for the people of Pembroke, Wales, and beyond."
The new excavations are scheduled to commence at the end of May, marking the next significant step in uncovering the deep historical layers of this exceptional Welsh cave.
