Vanguard Cave facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Vanguard Cave |
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| Location | Below the eastern side of the Rock of Gibraltar |
| Depth | 17 metres (56 ft) |
| Height variation | 35 metres (115 ft) |
| Geology | Limestone |
Vanguard Cave is a natural sea cave located in Gibraltar. Gibraltar is a small country that is part of the United Kingdom. Vanguard Cave is part of a bigger group of caves called the Gorham's Cave complex.
In 2016, this group of four caves was suggested to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This means it's a very special place that the world wants to protect. The caves are famous because they were one of the last places where Neanderthals lived. Neanderthals were an ancient type of human. They lived here between 55,000 and 28,000 years ago. You can find Vanguard Cave on the southeast side of the famous Rock of Gibraltar.
What is Vanguard Cave Like?
Vanguard Cave is one of four caves in the Gorham's Cave complex. The other caves are Bennett's, Gorham's, and Hyaena Cave. This whole complex is hoping to become a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Vanguard Cave is about 35 meters (115 feet) high. Inside, it has about 1.7 meters (5.6 feet) of dirt and sand. This material has been blown into the cave over many years. Mixed in with these layers are clues from the past. Scientists can dig up and study these layers. This helps them learn how the land and life changed long ago. Vanguard Cave was first explored by scientists in 1989. It is only a few meters north of Gorham's Cave, which was explored earlier in 1951.
Who Lived in Vanguard Cave?
In 2008, scientists found exciting new evidence in Vanguard Cave. It showed that Neanderthals ate more different foods than we thought. Before, many believed Neanderthals only ate meat from large animals. But the cave showed they also ate fish and shellfish. They even ate sea animals like monk seals and dolphins!
This might seem normal since the cave is now by the sea. But back when Neanderthals lived there, the shore was about 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) away. The sea level was much lower then. This lower sea level might have also created islands between Gibraltar and North Africa. This could have made crossing the Strait of Gibraltar easier. The strait is now about 14 kilometers (8.7 miles) wide. Similar ancient sites are found in Morocco.
The evidence isn't just a few bones. Researchers found that Neanderthals collected and carried mussels to the cave. The cave has a hearth, which is like an ancient fireplace. Neanderthals used fire to open the shells of the mussels. They also ate limpets, another type of shellfish. Scientists still discuss if shellfish were a big part of their diet or just a quick snack.
Professor Clive Finlayson believes their diet was very varied. He says evidence shows that six types of plants grew near the caves. Neanderthals lived there for short times. But they left proof that they were making stone tools while eating shellfish. They also brought seal bodies to the cave. Scientists think they butchered these animals right inside the cave. Stains on bones from monk seals, ibex (wild goats), and red deer support this idea. Other animals eaten in Vanguard Cave include bream (a type of fish), dolphins, sea urchins, and bluefin tuna.
In the middle part of the cave, scientists found a hearth used by Neanderthals many times. Another layer of ash in the upper part of the cave also had a hearth. This layer contained sea shells and stone tools, showing a shorter time of living there.
Digging Up the Past: Archaeology Today
Vanguard Cave is still a very important place for archaeology. Archaeology is the study of human history through digging up old sites. In August 2012, a big international team of scientists came to Gibraltar. They spent three weeks digging at Gorham's Cave. Then, they spent another three weeks digging at Vanguard Cave. This shows that there are still many secrets to uncover in these ancient caves!
