A Geographic Information Systems Approach to the 19th Century Excavation of Brixham Cavern, Devon, England

Authors

Donald A. McFarlane, Claremont McKenna College; Pitzer College; Scripps CollegeFollow
Joyce Lundberg, Carleton University
Warren Roberts, Claremont College LibrariesFollow

Document Type

Article

Department

Biology (CMC), WM Keck Science (CMC), Biology (Pitzer), WM Keck Science (Pitzer), Biology (Scripps), WM Keck Science (Scripps), WM Keck Science

Publication Date

2010

Abstract

The oldest known spatially-explicit archaeological excavation, conducted in Brixham cave, Devon, in 1858, is reconstructed using geographic information systems technology. Two dimensional plots of individual fossil taxa and flint artefacts demonstrate the utility of the technique for elucidating taphonomy and palaeobiology. The cave served as a den for hibernating brown bears, as a den for hyena and cave lion, and as a reliquary for their prey.

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Recommended Citation

McFarlane, D. A, Lundberg, J., and Roberts, W. 2010. "A geographic information systems approach to the 19th Century excavation of Brixham Cavern, Devon, England." Studies in Speleology 17:1-11.