Kents Cavern

Kents Cavern is a prehistoric cave system in Torquay, Devon, and one of Europe's most important Palaeolithic sites. A human jawbone fragment found in 1927 has been dated to 44,200-41,500 years ago, potentially the earliest evidence of Homo sapiens in northwestern Europe. William Pengelly's 1865-1880 excavations pioneered the first 3D grid mapping system, laying foundations for modern archaeological methods. The cave's six stratigraphic layers contain Acheulian to Magdalenian tools and remains of woolly mammoth, cave bear, and other extinct fauna. It has been a Site of Special Scientific Interest since 1952.