Exploration of the Elbolton Cave

Abstract

Exploration was continued until the end of December, 1890. The entrance to the Cave is through a shaft or pothole twenty feet in depth, situated at the foot of a small limestone scar on Elbolton, 1000 feet above sea level. The chamber, before the exploration commenced, was thirty feet long, and varied from seven to thirteen feet in width. The floor was fairly level with the exception of a heap of stones under the entrance On the surface nothing was observed but a few sheep bones of recent origin. The upper stratum, which varied in thickness from four feet at the east to seventeen feet at the west end of the chamber, is the only one wherein human remains have yet been found. It consisted of loose angular fragments of limestone, interspersed with large quantities of bones of the Celtic short-horn, the boar, dog, red deer, sheep, &c. The larger of the animal bones were split and broken, and were evidently used as food. Burnt bones and charcoal were found in three places. Three skeletons were discovered buried with the legs bent, and the knees close to the skull. The other human bones were more or less scattered. Most of the skulls were shattered, though two obtained from the east end are fairly preserved, and are good typical specimens of the long-head type. But the human remains obtained from the other end of the chamber and at a much lower level thirteen and fifteen feet below the floor (one lying ...