Cof Cymru: National Historic Assets of Wales · Wales
Paviland Cave
Rhossili, Swansea, Wales
The record
- Designation
- Scheduled monument
- Site type
- Cave
- Period
- Prehistoric
- Date of designation
- 21 February 1997
- Welsh name
- Ogof Pen-y-fai (Paviland)
- Community
- Rhossili
- Unitary authority
- Swansea
- Country
- Wales
- Coordinates (centre of the scheduled area)
- 51.55022, -4.25540
- SAM number
- GM504
- Cadw record number
- 3516
Slide toward Today to fade the historical sheet and see the modern map underneath.
David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford LibrariesDavid Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries
Shown on 5 historical map sheets, the earliest the 1636 "Cornubia : Devonia, Somersetus, Dorcestria, Wiltonia, Glocestria ..." (David Rumsey Map Collection, Stanford Libraries).
Cadw's description
Summary description and reason for designation
The following provides a general description of the Scheduled Ancient Monument.
The monument consists of a cave containing archaeological deposits dating to the upper palaeolithic period. Paviland Cave is situated at the base of a south-facing limestone cliff. It is a cleft narrowing towards the top to a height of 7m, opening into a cave 21m deep with a chamber 3.6m high. Excavations between 1822 and 1823 revealed the burial of the 'Red Lady of Paviland' - a crucial discovery demonstrating some of the earliest evidence for the human occupation of Britain.
Believed by antiquarians to be female, the 'Red Lady' is actually the skeletal remains of a young adult male. The skeleton was buried in the cave floor, covered in red ochre and was accompanied by a number of grave goods. Excavations during the 19th century and up to 1913 have made this the most productive site of this date in Britain. Artefacts found in the cave include: perforated sea-shell necklaces; mammoth ivory bracelet; stone needles and over 4000 worked flints. Recent re-evaluation of the radiocarbon dating of the human remains has determined that the remains are 33,000 years old.
The monument is of national and international importance for its potential to enhance our knowledge of Palaeolithic settlement, ritual and funerary practices. It retains significant archaeological potential, with a strong probability of the presence of associated archaeological features and deposits.
The scheduled area comprises the remains described and areas around them within which related evidence may be expected to survive.
Nearby in the register
- Paviland CampPromontory Fort - coastalunder 1 mi
- Horse Cliff CampPromontory Fort - coastalunder 1 mi
- Cave 40m SE of Deborah's HoleCaveunder 1 mi
- Deborah's Hole CampPromontory Fort - coastalunder 1 mi
Other entries of the same register within about three miles of this one, by straight line.