| Vanguard Cave | |
|---|---|
 | |
  Map showing location of Vanguard Cave inGibraltar. | |
| Location | Below the eastern side of theRock of Gibraltar |
| Coordinates | 36°07′17.5″N05°20′31″W / 36.121528°N 5.34194°W /36.121528; -5.34194 |
| Depth | 17 metres (56 ft) |
| Height variation | 35 metres (115 ft) |
| Geology | Limestone |
Vanguard Cave is a naturalsea cave in theBritish Overseas Territory ofGibraltar which is part of theGorham's Cave complex. This complex of four caves has been nominated as aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site status in 2016. The cave complex is one of the last known habitations of theNeanderthals, with a period of inhabitation from 55,000 to 28,000 years ago.[1] It is located on the southeast face of theRock of Gibraltar.
Vanguard Cave is one of four caves which together make up the Gorham's Cave complex which has been nominated to become aUNESCOWorld Heritage Site, the others beingBennett's, Gorham's, andHyaena Cave.[1] Vanguard is a 35-metre (115 ft) high cave which contains 1.7 metres (5.6 ft) of deposits. These deposits have been blown into the cave over time and are mixed in with archaeological evidence. These can be excavated and analysed to reveal how the geography and life has changed during the time that they were deposited.[2] Vanguard was first excavated in 1989, and lies just a few metres north of Gorham's Cave, which was excavated in 1951.[3]
In 2008 it was revealed that the cave supplied evidence thatHomo neanderthalensis had a more varied diet than previously thought. The diet ofH. neanderthalensis is now thought to have included fish and molluscs and marine animals likemonk seal anddolphin.[4] This may seem obvious given that Vanguard cave now looks out onto theAlboran Sea; however, scientists think that the cave was around 4.5 kilometres (2.8 mi) from the shore at the time ofH. neanderthalensis.[5] Lower sea levels may have also assisted ancient man by revealing islands between Gibraltar and theNorth African coast. This may have made the now 14 kilometres (8.7 mi) wideStrait of Gibraltar easier to cross and there are similarMousterian sites inMorocco atGrottes des Pigeons andJebel Irhoud.[4]
The evidence does not just consist of a few bones. Researchers have been able to establish that the people there selected, collected and transportedmussels to the cave. The cave contains ahearth, andH. neanderthalensis left evidence of burning which could be used to open the shells.[5] The shellfish also includedlimpets and these are widely found at otherH. neanderthalensis sites, however experts remain divided as to whether these were a significant part of the diet or just a usefulsnack.Clive Finlayson has argued that the diet was very varied and that evidence found within the caves indicates that six types of vegetation were within easy reach of the caves.[6]H. neanderthalensis lived there for a short time but evidence shows that they wereknapping stones as they ate the molluscs. Carcasses of seals were brought to the cave and comparison withH. neanderthalensis sites atCapellades inCatalonia indicate that after being hunted they were butchered in the cave. The stains on monk seal,ibex, andred deer bones support this theory.[5] The list of animals eaten in Vanguard includebream, dolphins,sea urchins, andbluefin tuna.[6]
Excavations in the middle part of the cave revealed a hearth that was used through at least three successive periods byH. neanderthalensis, with another ash layer containing a hearth, marine shells and stone tools in the upper part of the cave marking a shorter period of occupation.[5]
Vanguard Cave is a site of continuingarchaeological interest. There was a long investigation in August 2012 which involved an international team brought to Gibraltar. The team spent three weeksexcavating at Gorham's cave and three weeks at Vanguard.[7]
In September 2021, archaeologists from theGibraltar National Museum led by Prof Clive Finlayson announced the discovery of a 40.000 year-oldNeanderthal cave chamber in theGorham's Cave Complex, including a carving that may have been early Neanderthal artwork.[8][9][10]
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