Gully Cave Dig – Ebbor Gorge, Somerset

2006 – Ongoing

Geckoella is proud to have supported the Gully Cave Dig at Ebbor Gorge, Somerset for over 10 years. This geological and archaeological investigation led by Professor Danielle Schreve and her team from Royal Holloway, University of London has been ongoing since 2006.

The excavations have now yielded 23 mammalian taxa, at least 7 bird taxa and 19 molluscan taxa, making it the richest terminal Pleistocene faunal site in Britain. The bones are beautifully preserved and range from 11,000-40,000 years ago. Species such as reindeer, aurochs, brown bear, spotted hyena, lemming, arctic fox, great bustard and woolly rhinoceros are just some of what has been found here, all revealing fascinating insights into the biological responses to abrupt climate change at the end of the last Ice Age. Recently, the team has discovered struck flint, a clear sign of early human activity.

The Gully Cave project is only made possible through funding, which not only allows for the dig to continue but also funds the radiocarbon dating of bones and other scientific analyses. Alongside funding, we also like to keep in regular contact with Danielle and her team including helping to prepare the dig site over winter in 2020 before the dig begun again that July.