Kirkdale Cave
Also within
Condition (Natural England)
| Unit | Feature | Condition | Area (ha) | Assessed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE678856 | — | Favourable | 0.32 | 2015-01-21 |
Geology & landscape
Geological Feature: Cave / Cavern · Geological Period: Quaternary
Landscape processes: Karst
Description
Area, 0.3 hectares 0.75 ac Description Kirkdale Cave is a small cave used during the Ipswichian Interglacial as a den by hyenas. Pleistocene deposits excavated from the cave were the subject of an historic publication by Dean Buckland in 1822 which marked a milestone in the progress of research on Pleistocene faunas. The locality is the most northerly in the world to have yielded a 'hippopotamus' fauna. Other Information 1. The site has been identified as of national importance in the Geological Conservation Review. 2. During the 1984 revision the boundary has been amended.* Under Section 23 of the National Parks and Access to the Countryside Act, 1949.