Cheddar Complex, Protected scientific area in Somerset, England.
Cheddar Complex is a Site of Special Scientific Interest in Somerset, England, covering limestone formations, grasslands, woodlands, and cave systems. It sits within the Mendip Hills and contains Britain's largest gorge, carved through the rock over a very long period.
The caves within the site were used by early humans going back tens of thousands of years, and some of the oldest human remains ever found in Britain were discovered here. The gorge itself was formed during periods of intense cold, when meltwater cut through the limestone over a very long stretch of time.
The Cheddar Pink and Cheddar Bedstraw are flowering plants found only on these limestone grasslands and nowhere else on Earth. Visitors walking the slopes in late spring can spot these small, delicate blooms growing directly out of the rock.
Paths through the gorge and across the limestone slopes are well marked but can be steep and uneven in places, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. Allowing several hours gives enough time to take in both the higher ground and the cave level without feeling rushed.
A nearly complete human skeleton found in one of the caves, known as Cheddar Man, dates back around 9,000 years and is one of the oldest ever found in Britain. DNA testing later showed that a local schoolteacher living nearby was a direct descendant of this same individual.
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