- Aveline's Hole
Infobox Cave
name =Aveline's Hole
photo =Avelineshole.jpg
caption = Aveline's Hole
location =Burrington Combe
depth = 16m
length = 67m
coordinates =coord|51.324708|N|2.753269|W|region:GB_type:landmark|format=dms|display=inline,title
survey =
discovery = 1797
geology =Limestone
number of entrances =
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pronunciation =Aveline's Hole (gbmapping|ST4761458674) is a cave at
Burrington Combe in the limestone of theMendip Hills , inSomerset ,England .The earliest scientifically dated cemetery in Britain was found at Aveline's Hole. The human bone fragments it contained, from about 21 different individuals, are thought to be between roughly 10,200 and 10,400 years old. [cite web |url=http://www.somerset.gov.uk/media/896B4/MendipAONB.pdf |title=Earliest British cemetery dated |accessdate=2007-01-27 |work=BBC News ] [cite web |url=http://www.qub.ac.uk/arcpal/Rick%20Research/aveline's.html |title=Aveline's Hole – An Early Mesolithic Cemetery Site in the Mendips |accessdate=2007-01-27 |work=Rick Schulting ]A series of inscribed crosses found on the wall of the Aveline's Hole cave are believed to date from the early
Mesolithic period just after theIce Age . The pattern is said to be comparable with others known from Northern France, Germany and Denmark." [cite web |url=http://www.crystalinks.com/cavex205.html |title=X cave engraving 10,000 years old |accessdate=2007-01-27 ] A gate has been installed in the cave to protect the engraving, after consultations betweenEnglish Heritage and other interested parties, including the landowner andEnglish Nature .The cave was rediscovered in 1797 by two men digging for a
rabbit . [cite book |last=Johnson |first=Peter |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The History of Mendip Caving |year=1967 |publisher=David & Charles |location=Newton Abbot |isbn= ]Access to the cave is controlled by the
University of Bristol Spelæological Society and access is restricted during thebat hibernation season.References
See also
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Caves of the Mendip Hills
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