Aug 21 - Minister Visits Gorham’s Cave World Heritage Site
The Minister with responsibility for Heritage and the Environment, Professor John Cortes, recently visited the excavations at Gorham’s and Vanguard Caves, Gibraltar’s World Heritage Site.
This year the excavations have lasted for two months and three areas have been worked: two in Gorham’s cave and one in Vanguard Cave.
The highlight of the season was the discovery of a Neanderthal tooth. No further remains have been found so far but much of the archaeological level awaits excavation.
The excavations have been a great success and have involved researchers from many countries. There has been a strong contingent of students from Liverpool John Moores University, with whom the Gibraltar Museum enjoys long-term collaboration.
The thousands of bones and artefacts which have been excavated will now be studied in the laboratories in the Gibraltar Museum.
Professor Cortes was shown round the site by the Gibraltar Museum team led by Professor Clive Finlayson, Dr Geraldine Finlayson, Mr Stewart Finlayson and Mr Marcello Sanguinetti of the Ministry for Heritage.
The Minister commented: “I hadn’t been to Gorham’s cave for some time, and I was impressed both at the improvements to the archaeological operation and the amount of material that is constantly emerging. It is a world-class site and I have no doubt at all that there are many hugely important discoveries to come. I look forward to the opening of the new interpretation centre and viewing platform so that the importance, and the beauty, of the site can be enjoyed by many more.”
{fcomment}
