Conservation Audit of Archaeological Cave Resources in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales
Prof Andrew Chamberlain and Helen Holderness
Project Background
Archaeological remains, such as pottery, metalwork, stone tools and bones, are often preserved within deposits in natural caves, fissures and rock shelters. However, caves that contain archaeological remains are vulnerable to intrusive disturbance, and it is often not known which caves in a region are likely to contain archaeologically important material and whether the archaeological deposits are adequately protected.
English Heritage - the organisation responsible for understanding and protecting archaeological sites in England - is funding a 15 month project to study the conservation status of archaeological caves in the Peak District and Yorkshire Dales National Parks. The aims of the study are to assess the archaeological potential, current management and potential threats to the integrity of deposits in archaeological caves within the National Parks. The project is based at the Universities of Sheffield and Bradford and is being directed by Prof Andrew Chamberlain and Dr Randolph Donahue, with the assistance of Dr Glyn Davies and Ms Helen Holderness who work for the archaeological consultancy ARCUS.
The project team are particularly keen to involve members of caving clubs in this study. Recreational cavers are 
often the first people to encounter archaeological remains when exploring and extending cave systems, and cavers also play an important role in facilitating the conservation of caves and their contents. For this reason, the project team are organising separate public meetings in the Peak District and in the Yorkshire Dales, at which archaeologists, cavers and representatives of conservation organisations and interested parties can discuss the project and provide suggestions for ways in which our knowledge of cave archaeology can be improved.