Non-invasive assessment of the archaeological potential of cave deposits: The example of Bishopston Valley Caves, Gower, South Wales

The caves of the Gower peninsula are known to contain Late Pleistocene as well as Holocene sedimentary deposits and are therefore of particular interest to Quaternary scientists, including archaeologists specialising in the Palaeolithic period. Such cave deposits should be viewed as a valuable scientific resource. Here we report the findings of an assessment survey of the caves of Bishopston Valley, south-eastern Gower, utilising a methodology for non-invasive survey of caves sites which enables their archaeological potential to be assessed. Several of the caves in the Bishopston Valley contain deposits of potential archaeological importance. These deposits are under threat from human/animal use of the caves, and further investigation of these sites is warranted. © British Cave Research Association 2010.