A cave hidden beneath Pembroke Castle is drawing renewed attention from archaeologists, who believe it could change current views of Britain’s early past.
The site, known as Wogan Cavern, lies below the castle and has been noted for years, but only recently examined in detail. What had once been thought to be a disturbed or partially excavated space is now understood to contain deep, intact deposits. A research team from the University of Aberdeen plans a multi-year excavation, supported by funding from the Calleva Foundation.
Work will focus on uncovering layers that appear to span a long period of environmental and human history. Earlier investigations, carried out between 2021 and 2024, recovered a range of animal remains, including mammoth, woolly rhinoceros, reindeer, and horse. Stone tools were also found, along with material linked to early Homo sapiens.
Some evidence may point to earlier occupation by Neanderthals. According to project lead Rob Dinnis, the cave holds a sequence of deposits that could provide a continuous record of activity over tens of thousands of years. Researchers expect to examine periods ranging from the late Ice Age back to much earlier phases of human presence in Britain.
Remains of hippopotamus have also been uncovered at the site, pointing to a time when the local climate was far warmer than today. Such finds match earlier warm phases, when animals now linked to hotter regions lived in parts of what is now the UK.
The next stage of work will involve both excavation and lab-based study. Methods such as ancient DNA analysis and more precise dating will be used to identify species, build a clearer timeline, and examine how the cave was used.
Kate Britton said the condition of the sediments and organic material makes it possible to study past environments alongside evidence of human presence.
Although Pembroke Castle is best known for its medieval past and links to Henry VII, the cave below reflects a much earlier history. The material recovered so far points to repeated use of the area by animals and humans over long periods and under different conditions.
Excavation is due to restart in late May. The team plans to record the remaining layers in detail, with the aim of refining the sequence of activity and environmental change preserved inside the cave.
Sources : University of Aberdeen
