Brixham Cave and the Antiquity of Man
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| Entrance to Brixham Cave, from: Joseph Prestwich,“Report on the exploration of Brixham Cave conducted by a committee of the Geological Society…", ‘Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society', vol 163 (1873). |
In January 1858, whilst quarrying rock on a slope of the hill above the fishing town of Brixham, Devon, a cave containing ancient bones was discovered. A specially appointed committee organised by the Geological Society oversaw its excavation and the discoveries made there contributed to the final acceptance amongst scientists of one of the most controversial topics in 19th century science — the Antiquity of Man.
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