Cave Exploration Uncovers 120,000-Year-Old Hippo

Archaeologists are embarking on a significant five-year project to explore Wogan Cavern, located at Pembroke Castle in Wales. This cave is proving to be a remarkable archive of prehistoric life, yielding exciting discoveries. Initial excavations between 2021 and 2024 uncovered abundant evidence of human and animal activity spanning over 100,000 years, with much of the cave's sediment still intact.

The exploration, led by the University of Aberdeen, aims to shed light on our early prehistoric ancestors. Researchers are particularly interested in finding rare evidence of early Homo sapiens and potentially even earlier Neanderthal occupation. The discovery of hippo bones, estimated to be around 120,000 years old, highlights the cave's ancient past and its potential to reveal information about past climate changes.

Further large-scale excavations are expected to provide insights into extinct species and the various periods when humans inhabited the cave. The project, funded by the Calleva Foundation, will involve collaboration with international specialists. The team is optimistic about charting a long sequence of human activity, from post-Ice Age hunter-gatherers to much earlier human traces. New excavations are slated to commence at the end of May.