| Banwell Caves | |
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| Area of Search | Avon |
| Grid Reference | ST383588 |
| Interest | Biological & Geological |
| Area | 1. Areas of Search (AOSs are geographical areas used in the selection of Sites of Special Scientific Interest. Grid references define locations on Maps using Cartesian coordinates. 7 hectares |
| Notification | 1963 |
| Location Map | English Nature |
Banwell Caves (grid reference ST383588) are a 1. A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a Conservation designation denoting a Protected area in the United Kingdom. The British national grid reference system is a system of geographic grid references commonly used in Great Britain, different from using Latitude and Longitude 7 hectare geological and biological Site of Special Scientific Interest near the village of Banwell, North Somerset, notified in 1963. Explanation The hectare is commonly used in most countries around the world especially in domains concerned with land planning and management such as Agriculture, A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a Conservation designation denoting a Protected area in the United Kingdom. Banwell is a village in the North Somerset district of Somerset, England. North Somerset is a Unitary authority in England. Its area covers part of the ceremonial county of Somerset but it is administered A Site of Special Scientific Interest or SSSI is a Conservation designation denoting a Protected area in the United Kingdom. The site comprises two caves, called 'Banwell Bone Cave' and 'Stalactite Caverns', which lie within the grounds of a large house, at the western end of Banwell Hill.
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Geological Interest
The caves contain barite deposits, which are found in greater abundance and variety here than at any other site in the Mendip Hills. Baryte ( Ba[[Sulfur S]] O 4 is a Mineral consisting of Barium sulfate.
Banwell Bone Cave contains an assemblage of bones from Pleistocene mammals (mainly bison and reindeer). The Pleistocene ('plaɪstəsin is the epoch from 18 million to 10000 years BP covering the world's recent period Mammals ( class Mammalia) are a class of Vertebrate Animals characterized by the presence of Sweat glands, including sweat glands This is an article about an animal For other uses see Bison (disambiguation. The cave has a large hole in the roof and is believed to have been used as a pitfall trap. The activity of animal trapping has two separate but related meanings
Biological interest
The caves are used as a hibernation site by Greater Horseshoe Bats. The Greater Horseshoe Bat Rhinolophus ferrumequinum is a European Bat of the Rhinolophus genus
See also
- Banwell Ochre Caves
- Caves of the Mendip Hills
- Quaternary Mammal Project
Source
- English Nature citation sheet for the site (accessed 9 July 2006)
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