The 'Goat's Hole' Cave, Paviland, Gower Peninsular South Wales (SS437 859)

Описание: A visit to the iconic site of the oldest known ceremonial burial in Western Europe!!

Now, there are some locations which, quite simply, defy classification, rendering any attempt at rational description trite at best; otherwise, comically inept. The sea cave carved out of the sheer, almost 200ft high cliff face of Yellow Top, Paviland is, in The Citizen Cairn's opinion, such a place.

This iconic, natural cavern has serious form. For it was here, apparently some 34,000 years ago, that a group of modern humans laid to rest one of their own, the body of a man they saw fit to cover with red ochre and a selection of periwinkle shells and mammoth ivory rods. Clearly 'ceremonial', it is the oldest known such burial in Western Europe.

The Palaeolthic skeleton - sans head - was discovered by William Buckland in 1823 and duly christened 'The Red Lady'. Later finds of arrow heads and tools within confirmed the cave was 'in use' for many years, the 'Red Laddie' (as we now know he was a male) left in situ by those who were to follow - including the occupants of the superb Iron Age 'cliff fort' perched above. Whether or not the Iron Age people 'took the skull as a 'totem' we will never know. However, to maintain this was simply 'just another burial', as some maintain, appears absurd in the circumstances.

It is a sobering experience to arrive today and find the base of the cliff line battered by The Bristol Channel, aware that the sea was apparently some 70 MILES distant when that ancient ceremony took place... overlooking a plain roamed by mammoth and bison. Our time is but fleeting, right?

Access to The 'Goat's Hole' is far from easy, travellers unwilling to abseil - or undertake suicidal rock climbs - limited to a marginal time window either side of Low Tide. For the record, this is no 'Health & Safety' jive, The Citizen Cairn having been caught out once before, forced to wade up to his chest after losing track of time.

So don't let such muppetry happen to you. Check online for advance notice of Low Tide (see below). This time I arrived upon the tidal rocks an hour before the published time (having watched the water recede from upon the aforementioned magnificent cliff fort for several hours beforehand) and just made it back across dryshod some 35 mins after published Low Tide. It is possible, but needless to say, prospective visitors must judge circumstances for themselves.

Visit to the Yellow Top cliff fort is here @    • Yellow Top (Paviland) Iron Age 'Cliff Fort...  

** IMPORTANT NOTE: should you be inspired to visit the magnificent Paviland Cave, you MUST be aware this can only be attempted within a very short time frame at LOW TIDE. This is no Health and Safety jive - unfortunately, I can state from personal experience that if you ignore this advice, you potentially place your life at serious risk. I got away with it. Others might not be so lucky. IMPORTANT NOTE **

Check local tides online - e.g: @ https://www.tidetime.org/europe/unite...