Читать книгу Walking on the Gower. 30 walks exploring the AONB peninsula in South Wales онлайн

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MINCHIN HOLE

Minchin Hole, the largest bone cave in Gower

Minchin Hole is the largest and most impressive of all the Gower bone caves but is quite difficult to reach. The route down the cliff requires some very careful scrambling and access to the cave is not for the faint-hearted.

Extensive finds include the remains of a straight-tusked elephant, bison, soft-nosed rhinoceros, cave bear, reindeer, wolf and hyena showing that the cave was inhabited during the Upper Palaeolithic period. The later excavations by J Mason and JG Rutter proved that the cave was again inhabited during both the Romano-British period and again in the Dark Ages when the cave would have offered a secret hideout to anyone who made their home here. Finds of these periods include over 750 pieces of cooking pots, jars, beakers, dishes and bowls, spindle whorls, combs, finely-worked bone spoons, bronze brooches and numerous coins.

From High Tor, carry on following the cliff top. Just below you at SS 5602 8682 is another famous cave, Bacon Hole.