I enjoyed seeing and hearing about Creswell Crags directly from the discoverer. Dr Bahn was both passionate and knowledgeable and I particularly enjoyed the context that the initial presentation provided about Cave Art.
Creswell Crags
- Limited group size of just 12!
- An exploration of the caves in which Britain’s only confirmed examples of Ice Age Art was discovered
- Led by the discoverer! Paul Bahn is one of the world’s leading experts in this field
- Evidence of the lives of our Palaeolithic ancestors in this valley
Guide Lecturers
Introduction
The engravings and paintings of the Ice Age represent the first known flowering of art and some have argue their appearance signifies the development of the modern human mind.
The beautiful limestone valley of Creswell Crags contains one of Britain's most important collection of Ice Age occupation sites, as well as Britain's only confirmed examples of Ice Age cave art, discovered in 2003 and 2004. Whilst modest in terms of internationally known Palaeolithic art, the fact that the tradition of rock and cave art extended into Britain is of importance.
Thanks to that discovery, the Creswell Heritage Trust was awarded a lottery grant to build a magnificent new museum and visitors centre, where the original material from the caves (tools and animal remains) can now be seen on display, in addition to the art itself - accessible via viewing platforms within the caves themselves.
Your guide for the day will be Dr Paul Bahn, a well-known specialist on prehistoric rock art worldwide, and the leader of the team that discovered the Ice-Age art at Creswell. Paul also guides many of our rock art tours. Only 12 people are allowed into the caves at a time - making this a unique and intimate introduction.