Red Lady of Paviland Project

In 1823, geologists investigating mammoth remains in Gower found a what would later be known to be one of the oldest

ceremonial burials in Europe – a partial human skeleton, bones heavily stained with red ochre and surrounded a wealth of grave goods including

shell beads and carved ivory – the enigmatically (and erroneously) referred to as the “Red Lady of Paviland”.

Two hundred years on, Tourism Swansea Bay launched The Red Lady Project and Heritage Trail to explore new ways of the celebrating the

legacy of this charismatic find, involving guided walks, radio interviews and a craft festival held on 22^nd June 2024. that we hope to continue in the future.

We were grateful to receive funding form the Rural Anchor Scheme, part of the UK Government’s Shared Prosperity Fund,

without which the project would not have been possible.

Several trips to the cave were conducted, including a live
broadcast of a BBC Radio Wales program with Gower Unearthed who assisted in the
archeological archaeology explanation. This initiative has sparked new
discussions surrounding the potential return of the Red Lady remains to
Swansea. The project has also generated tremendous interest among visitors to
Gower, who are captivated by the Red Lady story.

To further engage the public, a trail leaflet has been
developed to guide visitors to other significant Paleolithic sites across the
Gower Peninsula. Moving forward, we are keen to collaborate with local
businesses to promote the story of the Red Lady and other prehistoric
narratives. This collaboration will help attract new visitors, including those
during the off-season, and raise awareness of the region’s rich archaeological
heritage.

-Click Here to Download the All Trails Paviland Cave and Fox Hole Slade Cave Interactive Trail-

-Click Here to Download the All Trails Gower Coast Walk: Rhossili to Paviland Cave Interactive Trail-

Paviland Cave, located on the Gower Peninsula in South Wales, is the site of one of the most significant archaeological discoveries in Britain—the burial of the so-called "Red Lady of Gower." This discovery, made in 1823 by archaeologist George Beaufort, is notable for being the earliest known example of a ceremonial burial in Britain, dating back to around 33,000 years ago, during the Upper Paleolithic period.