The Bone Cave,
Alveston, Gloucestershire
1 March 2001
Finds and photo gallery

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Working conditions in the cave at Alveston were muddy, cramped and potentially dangerous. Scaffolding had to be constantly reinforced and adjusted to prevent collapses and all excavated material had to be hauled up to the surface in buckets. Access was by way of a narrow entrance to a tight, vertical shaft, which comes down 10 metres beneath the surface before opening out into the underground chamber in which the bones were found.

The location of the cave.

Cross-section of the cave.

This young female's skull had been shattered by a ferocious blow

This human femur had been broken in such a way as could only be to extract the marrow.

Human bones found in the cave included one that showed signs of Paget's disease, which would have caused the bones to bend and given the sufferer an ape-like gait.

Human bones

Victor's reconstruction (complete)

Victor's drawings of the possible murder and butchery at the entrance to the Alveston bone cave (details)

Cameo

Time Team's reconstructed bronze votive offering.

Some of the many dog bones found in the cave.

Dell and geophizz.

Postholes.

Trench 4 identified a line of post holes, which may have been part of a walkway leading to the cave.

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