Picken's Hole, Cave and scheduled monument in Compton Bishop, England.
Picken's Hole is a protected cave on Crook Peak Ridge near Compton Bishop. The entrance leads to a chamber roughly 4 meters deep, with a sheltering rock overhang that runs along the escarpment.
The cave was excavated by the University of Bristol Spelaeological Society from 1961 to 1967, uncovering Middle Palaeolithic artifacts. These finds date to between roughly 25,000 and 37,000 years ago.
The cave contains stalagmitic deposits and intact materials outside its entrance, providing evidence of human habitation patterns during prehistoric times.
The site sits on Crook Peak Ridge northeast of Rackley and is registered as a protected monument. Visits should be arranged in advance due to limited access and the site's preservation status.
Substantial archaeological deposits remain unexplored at this location, offering potential for future scientific excavation. It belongs to a notable group of Palaeolithic sites across Somerset, many of which still await thorough investigation.
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