“Not only is there extremely rare evidence for early Homo sapiens, there are also hints at even earlier human occupation, probably by Neanderthals.
“There isn’t any different web site prefer it in Britain – it’s a as soon as in a lifetime discovery. With this new mission we are able to be taught a fantastic deal about our early prehistoric forebears, about how they lived and what their worlds seemed like.
“We are optimistic that the cave can chart a long sequence of human activity, from hunter-gatherers living there immediately after the last Ice Age around 11,500 years ago, back to Britain’s earliest Homo sapiens between 45,000 and 35,000 years ago, and maybe also earlier traces likely left by Neanderthals.
“We have additionally discovered hippo bones, which most likely date to the final interglacial interval, round 120,000 years in the past. The web site could due to this fact inform us about how a number of adjustments in local weather and setting affected folks dwelling there over 100,000 years or extra.”