New Ice Age Discovery connected to Kents Cavern: What It Reveals About Prehistoric Britain

A 15,000-Year-Old Story

Recent research has identified a small but extraordinary object linked to Kents Cavern: a pendant made from a grey seal tooth, dating back around 15,000 years to the late Ice Age.

Carefully shaped and perforated so it could be worn, this object is far more than a simple ornament. It represents a glimpse into the lives, identities, and connections of people living in Stone Age Britain.

Long-Distance Connections in Prehistoric Britain

At the time the pendant was made, Kents Cavern was located over 100 kilometres from the coast raising fascinating questions:

• Was this a prized possession, travelling long distances and passed through a family line?
• Or were objects like this exchanged through early trade networks?

Either way, this find provides rare and compelling evidence that people in prehistoric Britain were more connected than we once believed.

A Symbol of Identity and Culture

Jewellery in the Stone Age wasn’t just decorative, it often carried meaning. This pendant may have represented:

• Status within a group
• Personal identity
• A connection to distant places or environments

Finds like this help us understand that Ice Age people in Devon lived rich, complex lives filled with symbolism, creativity, and social relationships.

The Discovery

William Pengelly, the pioneering Victorian archaeologist behind the famous 19th-century excavations of Kents Cavern, first uncovered the seal tooth pendant during his meticulous “Great Excavation” between 1865 and 1880. Renowned for introducing rigorous scientific methods to cave archaeology, William Pengelly carefully recorded and preserved thousands of finds from the site. Since its discovery, the pendant has been safeguarded within the collections of the Natural History Museum, allowing modern researchers to re-examine it using new techniques and reveal its true significance today.

Rare Across Europe

This is one of only four seal-tooth pendants to have been discovered across Europe, and the only one discovered from the UK, making this an exceptionally rare and important object. Its connection to Kents Cavern further reinforces the site’s status as one of the most significant prehistoric locations in Britain.

Discover Prehistoric Devon for Yourself

For visitors looking for things to do in Torquay, Kents Cavern offers a unique opportunity to step back into the Stone Age and explore one of the most important prehistoric sites in the UK.

Whether you’re interested in:

• Ice Age Britain
• Early human culture
• Archaeology and ancient environments

…there’s always something new to discover beneath the surface.