STRIKING DISCOVERIES

Waimate Daily Advertiser, Volume XXIV, 7 November 1928, Page 5

STRIKING DISCOVERIES

RELICS OF ANCIENT CAVE-MEN. NEW YORK, Oct. 1. Striking revelations of the lives and habits of the early men of Wessex are expected in the near future, following scientific examination of remarkable cave men remains recently discovered n Gough’s Cave, Cheddar. Sir Arthur Keith, who has examined some of the remains, states that the discovery is “a very important one.” “Fragmentary skulls I have examined,” he said, “are of a period of about 12,000 years ago. “The remains can be associated with the Cromagnon people who lived in caves in the South of France at that time.” Gough’s Cave was discovered nearly 50 years ago by the Gough Brothers, of Cheddar, who leased it from the landowners and opened it to the public. It became a famous show cave, and., the tourist traffic grew to such an extent that it was necessary to widen the entrance. It was decided to carry out the work of excavation with scientific care, and the floor of the vestibule of the cave was' stripped off. It consisted of limestone blocks, red earth and pebbles to a depth of 14 feet. Thousands of prehistoric remains were found, ranging from skull fragments to flint flakes.

The most mysterious thing is a baton, which some experts consider may be the ceremonial wand of a cave magician. It was used, perhaps, to wave a spell over the wild deer when the cave man set out to hunt it.

This baton is made from a short length of smooth reindeer antler. It bears marks and perforations, and is sinlflar to one found in the cave just before the War. The same kind of rod has been found in Continental caves, and scientists have been mystified by them. While some associate them with magic, others think they were used for straightening arrows. Another striking discovery in Gough’s Cave is a few fox’s teeth perforated for suspension. It is thought that these, too. are connected with magic and charms. Other animal remains are being examined at the Natural History Museum. South Kensington. They reveal the ex istence of gigantic red deer and horses oxen, reindeer, wolves, and possibly Arctic fox.

Over 1,000 flint implements and flakes were discovered. Some of these display careful workmanship, while blocks ol flint show that the workmen got their raw material from the chalk country, the nearest of which is 27 miles from Ched dar.

The remains also include gravers, awls, scrapers, finely worked knives, ribbonlike blades, and geometrical points. More work of excavation is being planned for next winter. At Caerleon, on the Usk, Monmouthshire —rich in Roman tradition and King Arthur legend—further important discoveries have been made. These are a Roman Sacrificial Altar and a dungeon, which have been unearthed during the excavations which have been proceeding for some time. The walls of the dungeon are four feet thick. Caerleon was the permanent garrison town of the Second Roman Legion from the first to the fourth century. Here are the remains of the fortress and of the largest Roman amphitheatre in the king dom, where, in the days of the Csesars, gladiators fought, and, according to tradition, Christian martyrs were put to death. At Bude, Cornwall, also rich in legends of Arthur and of the Wizard Merlin, a section of a fossilised forest has been revealed at about the half-tide mark. The stumps and roots of the trees are plainly visible embedded in decompose! clay.