We asked 150 cavers how much they know about cave archaeology. This is what they said.
It goes without saying that cavers know caves inside out. They do, after all, spend a lot of time inside caves, and even when outside, cavers spend loads of time reading, talking and generally geeking out about caves, as any attendee of the upcoming EuroSpeleo Conference will agree.
But it’s not just the geology that gets cavers going. If you’re a caver who feels even a faint glimmer of excitement at the idea of finding ancient human remains underfoot, or underbelly, rest assured: we’re working on a Caver’s Archaeology Toolkit so you can do exactly that.
To help us develop it, we asked 150 regular cavers what they know about archaeology, whether they reckon they’d spot the clues, and what they would do with any artefacts they find…
1. Do you consciously keep an eye out for archaeology?
Over half (56%) of cavers said they would LOVE to find some archaeology, and already keep a keen eye out. In fact, 54% said they reckon they’d found some archaeology at one point or another on a previous caving trip – which absolutely made our hearts sing.
Likewise, 32% said they would keep an eye out, if only they knew what to keep an eye out for. That’s an overwhelmingly positive attitude and thankfully, only 10% of regular cavers said they don’t bother looking because they’re just not interested. We’re pretty sure that spotting a 14,000 year old spearhead would be enough to change their mind!
2. Would you recognise archaeological evidence if you came across some while caving?
This was the toughest bit for cavers. 67% said… Maybe. Something like a big bone or a metal artefact would probably stand out as being archaeological, but otherwise, they’d probably be unsure if what they were looking at would be a significant discovery. Sounds like a quick masterclass could come in handy!
3. What would you do if you found something that you thought might be archaeological?
Cavers, we salute you! 77% said ‘photograph the remains, and tell someone about it’, which is the CORRECT answer. Unfortunately, without knowing what you’re looking for, such good intentions are probably going unfulfilled…
Our conclusion? Cavers are keen to find and report archaeology, but just need help knowing how to do so
It’s awesome to see such enthusiasm for finding and reporting archaeology among regular cavers. But it sounds like a bit of help is needed to ensure all you cavers can live out your dreams of finding, and reporting, a significant underground archaeological discovery. And that’s exactly why we’re producing a Caver’s Archaeology Toolkit.
We’re going to start by making a ‘What To Do If You Find Something’ cheat sheet, which will cover how to photograph the remains, when to remove them and when to leave them behind, and who to send your pictures or bring your discoveries to.
Secondly, we’re going to make ‘A Cavers Guide To Spotting Archaeology Underground’ which will give a few examples of things you might find in a cave that would make an archaeologist’s day. Both will be distributed to caving clubs around the country in the coming months.
Thirdly, we’re running a real, live cave excavation during the EuroSpeleo Caving Congress. This crowdfunded dig aims to bring together different communities of interest to enjoy and investigate the unique archaeology found in caving environments. You can come along and take part in the dig itself by signing up here, come for a free visit, or join one of our other free cave archaeology sessions at the Congress.
We hope to see you there!
