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Excavation

Date 22 June 2008 - 15 October 2008

Event ID 577450

Category Recording

Type Excavation

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/577450

NC 2680 1702 The bones of an adult brown bear and an ulna from a second bear were recovered from a dry high level passage in cave system, 22 June–15 October 2008. The remains, which were originally discovered in May 1995 by cave divers from the Grampian Speleological Group, were considered to be under threat when a new dry entrance, providing easier access to the site, was discovered in January 2008. The remains were in the area covered by the Creag nan Uamh Caves scheduled monument (Index 606) and the Ben More Assynt SSSI.

After surveying the passages containing the bear remains, which also included important cave morphology features, a limited excavation was conducted and was successful in removing around 80% of the bones from one bear and the ulna from a second bear; the latter relating to a different depositional event. The bones are now awaiting radiocarbon dating and detailed analysis, which will be crucial in determining how the animals or their remains entered the cave system. It is anticipated that the bears died at least 12,000 years ago.

Report: Highland SMR, Historic Scotland, RCAHMS and Scottish Natural Heritage

Funder: Grampian Speleological Group and National Museums Scotland

Steven Birch (Grampian Speleological Group, Edinburgh), 2008

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