Ancient wolverine jaw found in Stump Cross Cavern

Volunteers excavating a newly accessed cave at Stump Cross Caverns in North Yorkshire uncovered a fossilised lower wolverine jaw, a find described as very rare; site dating has suggested Ice Age material in the caverns is roughly 80,000–90,000 years old, with some reports describing the specimen as older than 90,000 years.

Volunteers working on an excavation of a newly accessed cave at Stump Cross Caverns, near Pateley Bridge, uncovered the lower half of a wolverine jawbone with several teeth still attached. The discovery was made as part of work by the Craven Pothole Club and other volunteers in an area first found by Victorian explorers and not previously open to the public. Wolverines are now found in Arctic and sub-Arctic regions, and their bones have been found at Stump Cross before, most recently in the 1980s. Organisers said material of interest from the dig will be held for display at the cave in future. Key details: - The find is a fossilised lower jaw with some teeth, including a large canine. - The discovery was made during volunteer excavation by members of the Craven Pothole Club and others. - Earlier dating of material at the site gave an initial estimate near 70,000 years, while more recent research on the caverns has suggested ages around 80,000–90,000 years; some reports describe the specimen as over 90,000 years old. - Other Ice Age animal remains found at Stump Cross include reindeer, bison and Arctic fox. - The cave being excavated was first discovered by Victorians and has not been generally accessible; there is an ambition to make it part of the visitor attraction. Summary: The jaw adds to a record of Ice Age fauna from Stump Cross Caverns and was recovered during ongoing volunteer-led excavation. Excavation and study are continuing, and organisers have announced that items of interest will be included in a future cave display.