Cave visitors get chance to view Ice Age artwork
Submitted by vicky on Thursday, 01 April 2004 Page Views: 2556
EventsVisitors to a the Derbyshire cave complex of Creswell Crags are being offered a unique opportunity to see paintings made by prehistoric man on cave walls 12,000 years ago. Pictures of animals and geometric patterns were painted on the walls of the caves, near Whitwell, during the Ice Age but their outlines remained invisible until last year.They were only identified when experts from English Heritage identified them during a survey of the caves funded by English Heritage. Archaeologists believe the pictures are one of the most important finds in early British prehistory and are comparing them with world-famous examples from caves such as Lascaux in France and Altamira in Spain.
Cave art specialists from across Europe are travelling to the former mining community later this month to hear about the latest discoveries in the cave complex.
The Ice Age Cave Art conference from April 15-17 is the first of its kind to be held in Britain and will be preceded by guided tours of the caves throughout the Easter holidays.
English Heritage, which is sponsoring the conference, says this will be the only opportunity this year to view the engravings from a temporary platform that has been built in Church Hole Cave.
Those on the tour will be able to see line engravings of ibex – a type of antelope – and bison, as well as depictions of birds, horses and geometric patterns.
Dr Paul Bahn, Britain's leading Ice Age art specialist, said: "It is extremely important that our initial discoveries do not disappear into academic reports but that these finds are publicised to as wide an audience as possible.
"This is one of the most important finds ever made in early British prehistory and this conference will ensure that its significance is not lost."
Dr Bahn will be speaking at the conference alongside the team which made the initial discoveries at Creswell and experts from Spain, Portugal and France.
Guest speakers plan to reveal the results of more recent survey work on the caves and rock shelters surrounding the crags, which has found three times the number previously known.
Nigel Mills, manager of the Creswell Heritage Trust, said the discoveries highlighted the unique heritage of the area and would play a major role in the regeneration of the former pit community.
A £4m bid has recently been submitted to the Heritage Lottery Fund to improve facilities at the Creswell visitors centre and access to the crags themselves.
Jon Humble, Inspector of Ancient Monuments for English Heritage, said: "Creswell Crags continues to go from strength to strength and is quite possibly the best and most successful example of an archaeology-led project for social and economic regeneration anywhere in the UK."
A place on a guided tour of the art can be booked by calling the Creswell Crags Museum and Education Centre on 01909 720378. Tour prices are £5 per adult and £2.50 per child, or a family ticket at £12.50.
Source: The Yorkshire Post 01/04/2004
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