Gough's Cave
| Gough's cave | |
|---|---|
Stalagmites and stalactites in Gough's cave | |
Interactive map of Gough's cave | |
| Location | Cheddar |
| Depth | 115 m (377 ft) |
| Length | 3,405 m (11,171 ft) |
| Discovery | 1892 |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Access | Show cave open to the public; greater part by diving only |
| Cave survey | University of Bristol Spelaeological Society |
| Registry | Mendip Cave Registry |
Gough's Cave (/ɡɒf/ GOF) is located in Cheddar Gorge on the Mendip Hills, in Cheddar, Somerset, England. The cave is 115 m (377 ft) deep and is 3.405 km (2.12 mi) long, and contains a variety of large chambers and rock formations. It contains the Cheddar Yeo, the largest underground river system in Britain. Archaeologically, the cave is known for an occupation by late Upper Paleolithic Magdalenian peoples around 14,700 years ago, whose remains in the cave show evidence of the practice of cannibalism and the production of skull cups, and the considerably younger Mesolithic skeleton of Cheddar Man, dating to around 10,300 years ago.