Enormous cave under Pembroke Castle could rewrite Britain's prehistory

Researchers have discovered a large cave beneath Pembroke Castle in Wales that contains rare evidence of early humans and animals dating back over 100,000 years.

The cave, known as Wogan Cavern, was previously thought to hold little archaeological material but recent small excavations have revealed well-preserved bones and stone tools.

The University of Aberdeen will lead a five-year excavation project to explore the site further.

Initial digs between 2021 and 2024 uncovered remains including hippopotamus bones, mammoth, and woolly rhinoceros, as well as stone tools linked to early Homo sapiens and possibly Neanderthals.

The cave measures 23 meters in length and up to 10 meters in height and is accessed via a spiral staircase from the 11th Century castle.

Researchers describe it as a unique prehistoric archive in Britain with the potential to provide significant insights into early human activity.

Dr Rob Dinnis from the University of Aberdeen, who directed the initial digs and will lead the new project, said the site is "a once in a lifetime discovery".

He highlighted the cave's potential to chart a long sequence of human occupation, from hunter-gatherers after the last Ice Age to Britain's earliest Homo sapiens and possibly earlier Neanderthal presence.

The discovery is significant because it challenges previous assumptions about the archaeological value of the site and offers a rare glimpse into prehistoric life in Britain.

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