ON Friday, July 14, there will be a fascinating talk at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery.

Dr. Elizabeth Walker, specialist curator for palaeolithic and mesolithic archaeology at National Museums Wales, will be giving a talk on ‘The first visitors to Tenby: evidence for the early prehistoric use of caves.’

Dr. Walker recently contributed a paper to Volume 1 of the Pembrokeshire County History on the palaeolithic and mesolithic hunter-gatherers of Pembrokeshire.

There are a number of important caves that lie close to Tenby. Many of these caves have been excavated and investigated by churchmen, monks and archaeologists since the mid-19th century. This work has resulted in a wealth of archaeological information and a large collection of important stone and bone tools, as well as animal bones. One of these tools, now on display at Tenby Museum and Art Gallery, comes from Hoyle’s Mouth Cave in Penally. It dates back around 34,000 years ago and provides some early evidence for anatomically modern humans like ourselves in the area at an early time.

The talk will present the evidence that has been recovered from recent work at Hoyle’s Mouth and Little Hoyle Caves, as well as describing the finds from the many caves on Caldey Island and in Pembroke. It will focus on new analysis and dating of the stone tools from the Hoyle Caves. It will also describe some of the now extinct animals that once roamed the area including woolly rhinoceros, mammoth, bear and reindeer, to present a picture of the changing climates, environments and life in prehistoric times.

If you are interested in attending, please contact the museum (01834 842809) to reserve a space. The talk starts at 7 pm. Tickets are £5 (or £4 if you have a Friends of Tenby Museum membership card).