Banwell Caves

Also within

Somerset County Mendip Hills Scenic Area

Condition (Natural England)

Geology & landscape

Geological Feature: Cave / Cavern · Geological Period: Quaternary · Rock Type: Limestone

Landscape processes: Karst

Description

Area, 1.7 hectares 4.2 ac Description Banwell Caves is located approximately 5 kilometres east of Weston Super Mare, at the western end of Banwell Hill. The site comprises two caves, 'Banwell Bone Cave' and' Stalactite Caverns' within the grounds of a large house. In these caves, barite deposits occur in greater abundance and variety than at any other location on the Mendip Hills. The deposits form encrustations and vein fillings in association with small amounts of galena, smithsonite, limonite and yellow ochre. Contacts with the limestone host rock and with cavity fill sediments are also visible and the way in which the barite deposits guided cave development many million years after their formation. The site also contains Banwell Bone Cave which is of particular importance both because of its uniquely rich Pleistocene bone assemblage consisting of mainly bison and reindeer and because the cave, which has a large hole in the roof, almost certainly acted as a pitfall trap. Extensive deposits containing Pleistocene bones remain in situ and further excavations will help refine the age and composition of the vertebrate fauna Banwell Caves is of national importance for understanding mineralisation processes in the Mendip Hills and for its rich Pleistocene bone assemblage which has considerable potential for future research. The caves are also used as a hibernation site hibernacula by greater horseshoe bats Rhinolophus ferrumequinum. A rare and endangered species, the greater horseshoe batis protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and is listed in Annex II of the EC's Habitats Directive 1992.

Species mentioned