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Badger Cave

Assynt, Alt Nan Uamh, Sutherland.

This cave starts as a roomy, earth floored chamber . It lowers after 10 m to a crawl past collapsing rock strata before reaching a T-junction. After 2 m the left-hand passage turns right and closes down. To the right, a low sand-filled chamber slopes down to where the sand almost reaches the roof. A smoke test in 1927 showed this cave connects with the inner chamber of Reindeer Cave.

Originally described as one of 4 caves (now 8) in a limestone cliff, about 200 ft. above the Allt nan Uamh - a tributary of the River Loanan, near Inchnadamph, in the Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh, 1917; J.G. Callander, H.E. Cree and J. Ritchie 1927.

Excavations in 1920's at Creag nan Uamh bone caves, near Inchnadamph, aroused considerable interest in possibility of evidence for Palaeolithic presence in NW Scotland referring to the late Upper Palaeolithic date originally suggested for occupation of caves.

Animal remains were found apparently representing late Arctic fauna surviving in a refuge area into early post glacial times. The suggestion was that human habitation of the caves was not earlier than Mesolithic or even Neolithic in date. [A D Lacaille, 1954]. The material from Allt nan Uamh is at the Royal Scottish Museum, Chambers St., Edinburgh. [Information contained in letter from A S Henshall, (Asst. Keeper, NMAS) 28 December 1961].

4 objects found during excavations, including one on which principal claim for Palaeolithic date based, are published here for the first time. Two are probable Viking Age/early medieval artefacts of unusual type, one is undated but is possibly also of the same period, and the fourth, while almost certainly of Pleistocene age, is regarded as an unmodified natural object. Collectively these serve to discount previous claims for Palaeolithic human presence. Radiocarbon dating of human skeletal remains found, however, suggests caves were burial place in Neolithic period. [Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, 2005; A Saville. ]

Alternate Names: Creag nan Uamh Bone Cave [1]

Notes: In 1889, Dr J. Horne & Dr B.N. Peach explored third cave from West & found bones of rich Arctic fauna with traces of human habitation (Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh 1927). Further excavations made 1926 by J E Cree, caves 1 & 2 from west being dug & a trial trench dug in 1889 cave. Finds included animal bones, human skeletons - one definite burial, iron blade bone pin & awl, reindeer horn implement, cut & scratched antler & charcoal. Nature of fauna, state of fossilation of bones, & geological evidence suggests Upper Palaeolithic date, certainly belonging to Magdalenian or earlier.

Samples were taken for radiocarbon dating from bone awl and double ring headed pin of walrus ivory, found in "cave earth" during the excavation of reindeer Cave by J Cree in 1926. The bone awl had too little collagen to be datable. Walrus ivory pin NMS HM 377 1900+/-80bp (50+/-80ad) OxA-3527 NMRS MS/735/1

See also Creag nan Uamh Bone Caves [0624].

The Bone Caves (including Reindeer Cave are a Site of Special Scientific Interest and a Scheduled Ancient Monument. Digging is not permitted without the written permission of Historic Environment Scotland, Nature Scot (previously Scottish Natural Heritage) AND the local landowner.

Hydrographic Feeds: None

Hydrographic Resurgences: None