Long before Brixham became a bustling fishing port, the area was home to some of Britain's earliest inhabitants. Prehistoric Brixham offers a fascinating glimpse into human and animal life tens of thousands of years ago, particularly through the evidence found in its famous limestone caves.
Brixham Cave Discoveries
The most significant site is Brixham Cave (also known as Windmill Hill Cavern), where 19th-century excavations uncovered flint tools and animal bones in undisturbed layers—proving for the first time that humans lived alongside now-extinct Ice Age animals.
Key Finds:
- Stone tools made by early humans, possibly Neanderthals and later Homo sapiens.
- Bones of long-extinct creatures such as:
- Woolly rhinoceros
- Cave bear
- Mammoth
- Hyena
- Evidence of early butchering and hunting activities.
These discoveries were vital in confirming Darwin’s theory of evolution and deep human antiquity.
Kents Cavern Connection
Nearby Kents Cavern in Torquay—often linked with Brixham in prehistoric studies—contained even older human remains, including a human upper jawbone dating back over 40,000 years. This supports the idea of continuous human presence across the wider South Devon area.
A Harsh but Fertile Land
During the Ice Ages, Brixham would have been a much colder and more open landscape, populated by herds of grazing animals and roaming predators. Early humans likely used the area’s caves for shelter, storage, and perhaps ritual activities.
Legacy
Today, Brixham’s prehistoric heritage is less visible than its maritime history, but its impact is enormous. The 1858 excavation of Brixham Cave helped establish archaeology as a scientific discipline and put the area firmly on the map for anyone interested in human origins.