Head (alluvial fan) deposits exposed in 1977 at Bourne near the mouth of Burrington Combe are attributed to two distinct cold periods, one before the Ipswichian Interglacial (Marine Oxygen Isotope Stage 5e) and one during the Late Devensian (MIS 2). The Ipswichian (and possibly earlier interglacials) is represented by reddened, clay-enriched soil horizons (paleo-argillic B horizons) developed in decalcified upper parts of the coarse flood gravels and coversand, which together constitute the older Head. The younger Head is thinner and consists of stony loams derived partly from the older Head, but also incorporating Late Devensian loess.

The Quaternary stratigraphy of Gough’s Cave is reviewed and summarised. The earliest deposits known are the Main Sands (new name) probably deposited when the cave was the main resurgence for the karst drainage of the area. The Conglomerate marked a departure from the normal pattern of sedimentation, being probably deposited by a stream entering the cave from Cheddar Gorge. The succeeding Creswellian Cave Earth was deposited by intermittent floods and yielded the flint industry which gives it its name. This occupation lasted for around 1500 years. The Creswellian Cave Earth is capped by the stalagmite which marks a period of seasonal flooding which left a sequence of alternations of clayey sediment and carbonate. The youngest deposit was the Upper Cave Earth (new name) which marks a return to brief floods. Eventually deposition ceased in the outer part of the cave. Early Iron Age and Romano-British finds from the Upper Cave Earth probably resulted from later contamination or human or animal disturbance.

In 2003, during an examination of Gough’s Cave for Palaeolithic art, a figure was noted on the wall of an alcove, in an area of the cave not affected by blasting. The figure resembles a mammoth. Close inspection suggests that engraved lines may complement natural features of the rock surface suggestive of the trunk and possibly also the tusks. The geomorphic history of the cave gives a context in which an engraved line may have become obscured by erosion processes during repeated flood episodes. An analysis of the archaeological and palaeontological context suggests that an ancient engraving of this nature would not be out of place in this cave It is concluded that this figure might have been engraved during the Late Upper Palaeolithic occupation of the cave.

Two samples of bone from Tyning’s Great Swallet were submitted for accelerator radiocarbon dating. The dates obtained, at 95.4% probability, were: 2480 - 2290 BC for Bos primigenius from about 40 m depth and 400 - 340 BC (34.8%) ; 300 - 200 BC (60.6%) for Homo sapiens from about 30 m depth. These results imply that the infilling of this shaft was a relatively gradual and probably natural process. In the absence of Iron Age artefacts, the circumstances of the deposition of the human remains are obscure.

A brief description is given of natural caves formed by landslip in the Cotswolds north of Cheltenham. The paper is an overview and thus includes previously published sites for the sake of completeness and clarity, new data from the sites, and some new sites. Surveys of the main caves are presented.

A survey and description of this newly discovered cave near Ennis, Co. Clare, are presented.