10:30am to 4:30pm
At the beginning of the nineteenth century Banwell Hill looked very different from how it is today. It was an open pasture that was being mined for minerals such as lead, calamine, ochre and barytes. In the year 1757 miners broke into a large cavern or 'leer'. This cave was named Banwell Salactite Cavern and was opened as a visitor attraction.
Within a few years the novelty of the cave had gone and the neglected mine shaft collapsed so that visitors could no longer enter the cave. In 1824 the Vicar of Banwell and two paid miners spent a week searching for the lost cavern but were unable to find it. The miners returned later to investigate some minerals they had noticed when they found their way into the lost cavern. The Stalactite caves were opened once again to the public.
To reach the larger chamber visitors to the cave had to descend two ladders, so an easier way was sought. A fissure that was thought to lead into the shaft below the level of the two ladders was chosen. The fissure was opened up, but it did not lead into the Stalactite Cave but into another cave. This newly discovered cavern held a secret. Mixed in with the earth and the rocks that filled the cave to the roof were many thousands of animal bones dating back to the ice age.
The bones discovered by the early explorers are now known to be from the Pleistocene period. They date from the Devensian or last 'Ice Age'. The landscape would have resembled the Arctic tundra, completely different from that of today.
Nowadays the caves and their bones are regarded as important in the study of Ice Age Britain. Bones found to be of the same period of the Ice Age as those at Banwell are known as "Banwell Type Fauna". The types of animals found here provide important information on past climatic conditions in Britain.
Once these remains were deposited in the cave, they were quickly covered by an influx of sediment. This protected the bodies, probably starving them from oxygen. This has caused them to be preserved, starting the process of fossilisation. Eventually this process would have completely replaced the bone in a process known as lithification.
The caves also offer roosting spots for Greater Horseshoe bats. On the public days, the tower is also open giving fantastic views in all four directions.
Owners John and Yvonne Sargent have the view that they are custodians of the cave and are keen to continue the philosophy of the Bishop of Bath who discovered the caves. As a result they actively encourage visitors to the site on these open days under the Heritage Open Days scheme. Please do not try and visit at any times other than those stated, unless you have booked a private tour, as a bat roost and SSSI you will be breaking the law if you do so.
Free parking is available in an adjacent field on the open days listed. Whilst it is possible to log the cache from a wheelchair, there are steps into the cave and up the tower.
Prior to your visit more information can be found here . Further information is available from the house or tower during the open day.
To log the cache please go to the information sign at the published co-ordinates and find the answer to the following questions:
1. Most of the bones at Banwell Bone Cave date from the Early Part of the last "Ice Age". What is the actual interval of time that the bones cover?
Please give your answer in the form 'between ______ and ____years ago'.
2. Which of the following animals were not present on the arctic tundra, and whose bones have not been found in the cave: Brown bear, reindeer, bison, sabre tooth tiger?
3. Geologists think that the animals did not live in the cave. How do they think that the bones accumulated in the cave?
Please e-mail your answers to the cache owner and do not post them on the cache log directly.