Researchers say new details about a hidden cave under Pembroke Castle could reshape what is known about ancient life in Britain.
On Thursday, researchers described Wogan Cavern as a “once-in-a-lifetime discovery” after earlier work at the Welsh site turned up evidence of early humans and animals, including a now extinct hippopotamus that roamed Wales about 120,000 years ago.
A major five-year archaeological project led by the University of Aberdeen will investigate what researchers called the “enormous” cave, which is accessed by a spiral staircase from the 11th century castle.
“There is no other site like it in Britain, it is a once-in-a-lifetime discovery,” said Rob Dinnis, who will lead the project.
The cave had previously been thought to have been emptied by the Victorians. Researchers now describe it as “one of the most important prehistoric archives in Britain.”
“Despite the limited work done so far, we can already say that Wogan Cavern is a truly remarkable site,” Dinnis said in a statement.
“Not only is there extremely rare evidence for early Homo sapiens, there are also hints at even earlier human occupation, probably by Neanderthals.”
“We have also found hippo bones, which probably date to the last interglacial period, around 120,000 years ago,” he added.
Earlier finds at the site revealed bones of mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, reindeer and wild horse, along with stone tools and evidence of human occupation across multiple periods.
“Bones of mammoth and reindeer have been found alongside stone tools left behind by some of the earliest Homo sapiens ever to occupy Britain,” the castle said in a statement.
Researchers said larger-scale excavation is due to resume in May. They said they hope the project will produce “insights into past climate change, extinct species, and the multiple periods when humans called the cave their home.”
They also said the site could chart a long sequence of human activity. That includes hunter-gatherers after the last Ice Age about 11,500 years ago, some of Britain’s earliest Homo sapiens between 45,000 and 35,000 years ago, and possibly even earlier Neanderthal presence.
“Wogan Cavern provides a unique chance to use all the scientific techniques now available to archaeologists,” said Professor Kate Britton of the University of Aberdeen.
“Because the bones are well preserved, we can learn a lot about past environments and ecosystems,” she added.
At Pembroke Castle, staff said the find adds another layer to the site’s long history as a medieval fortress and the birthplace of Henry VII in 1457.
“This is incredibly exciting news for everyone at the castle,” said castle manager Jon Williams.
“We are thrilled that work on this wonderful cave will continue.”
The project comes amid other recent scientific findings about ancient human relatives and origins.
A study released earlier this year concluded that fossils found in Morocco, dating back more than 773,000 years, support the theory that Homo sapiens first appeared in Africa.
Neanderthals mostly lived in Europe, while Denisovans, more recent additions to the human family, roamed Asia.
In November, scientists said recently found fossils proved that a mysterious foot in Ethiopia belonged to a little-known, recently named ancient human relative that lived alongside the species of Lucy.
In 2022, researchers concluded that Neanderthals and humans lived alongside each other in France and Spain for up to 2,900 years, giving them plenty of time to potentially learn from or even breed with each other.
At Pembroke Castle, researchers now hope Wogan Cavern will help map human occupation from about 11,500 years ago to between 45,000 and 35,000 years ago, and possibly earlier Neanderthal presence.
