Bennett's Cave is a cave in the

British Overseas Territory The British Overseas Territories (BOTs), also known as the United Kingdom Overseas Territories (UKOTs), are fourteen dependent territory, territories with a constitutional and historical link with the United Kingdom. They are the last remna ...

Gibraltar ) , anthem = " God Save the King" , song = " Gibraltar Anthem" , image_map = Gibraltar location in Europe.svg , map_alt = Location of Gibraltar in Europe , map_caption = United Kingdom shown in pale green , mapsize = , image_map2 = Gib ...

. It forms part of the

Gorham's Cave Gorham's Cave ( es, Cueva de Gorham, ) is a sea-level cave in the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. Though not a sea cave, it is often mistaken for one. Considered to be one of the last known habitations of the Neanderthals in Europe, the ...

complex which have been nominated for

UNESCO The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization is a specialized agency of the United Nations (UN) aimed at promoting world peace and security through international cooperation in education, arts, sciences and culture. It ...

World Heritage Site A World Heritage Site is a landmark or area with legal protection by an international convention administered by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). World Heritage Sites are designated by UNESCO for h ...

status.

Description

Bennett's Cave is one of four caves which together make up the Gorham's Cave complex which has been nominated to become a

. The other caves are

Vanguard The vanguard (also called the advance guard) is the leading part of an advancing military formation. It has a number of functions, including seeking out the enemy and securing ground in advance of the main force. History The vanguard derives fr ...

, Gorham's and

Hyaena Cave Hyaena Cave is a cave in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It forms part of the Gorham's Cave complex which has been nominated for UNESCO World Heritage Site status. Description Hyaena Cave is one of four caves which together make up ...

. Bennett's cave. like the other three, has been gradually filled with sand that has been blown in over thousands of years. These sands fall and over time they build up to remarkable depths. In the case of Vanguard Cave and Gorham's Cave the deposits are more than seventeen metres deep. Because of this the layers of sand record the environment from 15,000 to 55,000 years ago when the area was very different. In the past the sea level was lower and the shoreline was over 4,500 metres from the caves whereas today it is very close.Goreham's Cave complex
UNESCO tentative list, retrieved 4 August 2014

References

Caves of Gibraltar Neanderthal sites Limestone caves Wild caves {{Gibraltar-geo-stub