Cave S facts for kids

Cave S, also known as Sewell's Cave, is a limestone cave located in Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a small British territory found at the southern tip of Spain. This cave is on the eastern side of the Rock of Gibraltar, close to another cave called Holy Boy's Cave. In 1910, some very old human bones were discovered here, which were not from modern people.

Exploring Cave S

Captain Sewell was the person who first found this cave, which is why it's also called Sewell's Cave. He also named another set of caves, Sewell's Fig Tree Caves, which are now known as Goat's Hair Twin Caves.

Where is Cave S?

In 1864, Sir Charles Warren surveyed Gibraltar and recorded information about Cave S. He noted that the cave is about 800 feet (or 244 meters) above sea level. It is also about 30 feet (or 9 meters) below what was once a very large sand dune. This sand dune was important because it helped collect rainwater, which was Gibraltar's main source of water.

The cave is about 1 mile (or 1.6 kilometers) from the northern end of the Rock. Its entrance faces east, just above Holy Boy's Cave.

A Cave with a Past

Cave S shows signs that it was once underwater, like a sea cave. This is interesting because it's high up now! This discovery helps scientists understand that sea levels in Gibraltar have changed a lot over time, rising and falling significantly throughout history.

What Was Found Inside?

In 1910, a scientist named Wynfrid Duckworth explored Cave S. He described the cave's floor as sloping downwards towards the entrance. The floor was covered in a fine, powdery soil. Even though he didn't find any bats, he thought this powdery material was likely made of plant bits and bat droppings.

Many ancient objects have been found in Cave S. These include pieces of pottery, stone tools, and other stone objects. Researchers also found a shell bracelet, perforated shells, charcoal, burnt bones, and broken shellfish. There were also many different kinds of bird and mammal bones. The human bones found were believed to be from one male skeleton, which was missing its skull. These bones were noted for being unusually thick.