On the W side of Ebbor Gorge is a little creep leading to a shelter known as Outlook Cave. A leaf-shaped flint arrow or spear head was found at a depth of 1ft in the entrance way and is now in Wells museum. Human bones lay just on the surface of the inner cave floor – obviously dug up by animals – but with no associated finds. Further digging revealed remains of the bear and reindeer, a fragment of fingernail decorated light brown ware (the edge of a cup or bowl) and two fragments of undecorated black ware. In conclusion this would seem to be an occupied rock shelter of Neolithic and possibly earlier date. {1}
Scheduled 27.9.91. {5}
Some confusion over location as scheduling document gives different NGR from OSAD. English Heritage NGR given above, as OSAD reference is called Lion Cave on OS map. {6}
High on the right bank of the gorge, 58m above the present valley floor and 50m below the plateau. An artificially widened entrance 1m by 1.5m high leads to a small chamber extending c.12m, with a passage to the east. {8}
References:
1 Detailed records – Ordnance Survey Archaeology Division 1966 ST54NW29 SCPD
2 Mention – Balch, E 1914 “Wookey Hole: its caves and cave dwellers”, 146-7
3 Mention – Balch, E. 1947 “The Great Cave of Wookey Hole”, 96-7
4 Finds stored – WELLSM
5 Correspondence – EH to SCC 30.9.91 scheduling doc.
6 Personal communication – Webster, CJ SCED
7 Description – Barrington, N, and Stanton, W 1977 “Mendip – The Complete Caves..”
8 Detailed records – MPP evaluation 1986 in HER files file
9 Sketch plan – Caves of Ebbor Gorge sepS6 see ref {8}
Record created by:
Ed Dennison in September 1985
© Copyright Somerset County Council 2003
With thanks to the Somerset Museums Service for the link to this information.