DERBYSHIRE CAVES 307 



DERBYSHIRE CAVES. 



Fourteenth Interim Report of Committee appointed to co-operate with a 

 Committee of the Royal Anthropological Institute in the exploration of 

 Caves in the Derbyshire District (Mr. M. C. Burkitt, Chairman ; 

 Dr. R. V. Favell, Secretary ; Mr. A. Leslie Armstrong, Prof. 

 H. J. Fleure, F.R.S., Miss D. A. E. Garrod, Dr. J. Wilfrid 

 Jackson, Prof. L. S. Palmer, Mr. H. J. E. Peake). 



Creszvell Crags. — Mr. Leslie Armstrong, F.S.A., reports as follows : 



'Pin Hole Cave. — When my last report was presented a section of the lower 

 deposits of the cave left undisturbed in the 1873 excavations was in course 

 of examination. This was situated between the entrance door and the point 

 23 ft. distant at which my excavations commenced in 1924, and of this 

 length 13 ft. had been dealt with. This work has been continued and the 

 whole remaining portion of the deposit systematically examined, thereby 

 finally completing the excavation of this cave from the entrance door to the 

 position beyond the main chamber, where the Committee decided work 

 should cease and the type section of the whole series of the deposits be 

 preserved in situ. 



' As stated in the 1935 report, the Mousterian (1) and (2) occupation 

 levels were found to be intact and undisturbed by the earlier excavations. 

 Between 10 ft. and 13 ft. indications were observed of the Mousterian 

 (3) level also, slightly disturbed superficially at first but diminishing in 

 degree ; from 13 ft. to 23 ft. it proved to be entirely undisturbed and 

 was covered to an average depth of 12 ins. by a remnant of the upper 

 cave earth. Traces of occupation by man and animals became more 

 abundant as the excavation advanced and included a small hearth in the 

 Mousterian (2) level, with remains of charcoal and wood ash and remnants 

 of split animal bones around it, some of which show traces of burning. 

 A quartzite implement, a stone pounder and split quartzite pebbles were 

 found on the same horizon. The Mousterian (1) level yielded the largest 

 flint flake found in the cave during the whole course of the excavations. 

 Judged by type and technique this artifact might be classified as Clactonian. 

 It exhibits the characteristic oblique striking platform and pronounced 

 bulb of the Clacton culture and bears evidence of use, but, in view of the 

 fact that only one small flake at all comparable has been found previously, 

 it probably represents a chance product of the normal Mousterian industry 

 of the Pin Hole, or an importation. 



' The remnant of upper cave earth overlying the Mousterian (3) level and 

 of Upper Aurignacian Age, yielded several artifacts of flint, including a 

 typical angle burin and a long blade. No additions were made to the fauna 

 already recorded. The work was completed on June 6 last, thus bringing 

 the excavations which have been proceeding systematically and regularly 

 in this cave since September 1924 to a final conclusion. 



' I am gratified to be able to report that the Pin Hole Cave and Mother 

 Grundy's Parlour have now been scheduled by H.M. Office of Works as 

 Ancient Monuments, in accordance with the recommendation of the Com- 

 mittee, supported by the Council of the Association at the Norwich Meeting : 

 also that the Keeper of the Department of British and Medieval Antiquities 

 at the British Museum has offered to provide facilities during the coming 

 autumn for a special exhibition at the Museum of the whole of the objects 

 discovered during the course of these excavations. 



