Inside Europe's Oldest Red Ochre Burial - Paviland Cave

Описание: The Red Lady of Paviland is one of the most extraordinary prehistoric discoveries ever made in Britain.

Discovered in 1823 by William Buckland inside Goat's Hole Cave on the Gower Peninsula, the burial is now understood to be around 33,000 years old - making it one of the earliest known ceremonial burials in Europe.

The remains were found covered in red ochre, alongside decorative items and artefacts, suggesting ritual intent. Originally misidentified as a Roman-era burial, the site is now recognised as a significant Upper Paleolithic grave.

In this film, I climb the rugged cliffs of the Gower with Andrew Price of Dryad Bushcraft to reach the cave itself. Inside, we explore the context of the discovery, discuss the archaeological evidence, and consider why ochre may have been used.

Was it the bones that were painted? Or clothing treated with pigment that later decayed, leaving its colour behind?

Using replica material and red ochre, I demonstrate how the burial may have appeared, reflecting on the symbolic power of pigment in prehistoric ritual.

This journey combines landscape, archaeology, and experimental interpretation - stepping back into one of the oldest funerary traditions in Europe.

This video explores the Red Lady of Paviland, Upper Paleolithic burial practices, red ochre ritual, prehistoric Britain, and the archaeology of Goat's Hole Cave in Wales.



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