Recovering bone in Fume Pot, Ingleborough. © R. Peterson

This gazetteer contains a summary of information about caves in the Yorkshire Dales from which vertebrate remains have been recorded in the caving literature and other non-academic sources. It was first published in the now defunct online journal CAPRA (Cave Archaeology and Palaeontology Research Archive) in 2002 with revision in 2004. An updated version was published by the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society in 2011 with further updates following in 2013 and 2014. This version has been fully revised and updated. The area covered is that of the three volumes of the Northern Caves guide book series (Brook, et al. 1988, Brook et al. 1991 and Brook et al. 1994, partially updated by Allshorn, S. & Swire, P. 2017) excluding the North York Moors and Magnesian limestone caves. Hominid bearing caves are listed here by A.T.Chamberlain and non-human remains in the archaeological literature were also listed, by Chamberlain (2002), in CAPRA. Some overlap is unavoidable with sites such as North End Pot where finds were recorded in both caving and archaeological literature. Several sites included in this list have produced human remains.

Caving clubs have a long history of recording their exploits in club journals. These can have irregular publication dates and small print runs but all the references listed here should be available from the British Caving Library. References are also taken from Descent magazine (ISSN 00-46-0036), BCRA publications and the Cave Diving Group Newsletter (ISSN 1353-713X). Some sites may be referenced only from the Northern Caves guides although further work on identifying the remains has taken place. All text in quotation marks is taken directly from the original references. The species present at each site are given in the form used in the original references.

To find information about a particular site, click the Regions menu, above, and scroll through the list, use the search page, or browse the map. The categories of information listed for each entry may be found in the glossary.

It is hoped that we can actively keep the information both accurate and up to date. If you know of any data that is missing or out of date, please contact either the compiler, Dr. P.J. Murphy or the editor Graham Mullan. For technical problems, broken links etc. please contact the editor.

References:

Allshorn, S. & Swire, P. (2017) Northern Caves. The Three Counties System and the North West. Leeds. High Mead Publishing.

Brook, D., Davies, G.M., Long, M.H. & Ryder, P.F. (1988) Northern Caves Volume 1 Wharfedale and the North-East. Skipton. Dalesman.

Brook, A., Brook. D., Griffiths, J., & Long, M.H. (1991) Northern Caves volume 2 The Three Peaks. Clapham, Dalesman.

Brook, D., Griffiths, J., Long, M.H. & Ryder, P.F. (1994) Northern Caves volume 3 The Three Counties and the North-West. Clapham. Dalesman.