Gorham's Cave
| Gorham's Cave | |
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View of the Alboran Sea from inside Gorham's Cave, Gibraltar
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 Map showing location of Gorham's Cave in Gibraltar
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| Location | Southeast face of the Rock of Gibraltar, Gibraltar |
| Coordinates | 36°07′13″N 5°20′31″W / 36.120397°N 5.342075°WCoordinates: 36°07′13″N 5°20′31″W / 36.120397°N 5.342075°W |
| Depth | 18 metres (59 ft) |
| Discovery | 1907 |
| Geology | Limestone |
| Official name | Gorham's Cave Complex |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii |
| Designated | 2016 (40th session) |
| Reference no. | 1500 |
| State Party | United Kingdom |
| Region | Europe |
Gorham's Cave is a natural sea cave in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar. It is considered to be one of the last known habitations of the Neanderthals in Europe. It gives its name to the Gorham's Cave complex, which is a combination of four distinct caves of such importance that they are combined into a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the only one in Gibraltar. The three other caves are Vanguard Cave, Hyaena Cave, and Bennett's Cave.
It is located on the southeastern face of the Rock of Gibraltar. When first inhabited some 55,000 years ago, it would have been approximately 5 kilometres from the shore, but, due to changes in sea level, it is now only a few metres from the Mediterranean Sea.
The cave is named after Captain A. Gorham of the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers who discovered it in 1907, when opening a fissure at the rear of a sea cavern. Gorham inscribed his name and the date of his discovery in lamp-black on the wall of the cave, which has borne his name ever since. After this initial discovery, it seems the cave was forgotten—at least at an official level—as Gibraltarian historian and potholer George Palao recalls an inscription on the cave wall that read J. J. Davies 1943.
Gorham's Cave is sea cave which has formed in Jurassic limestone. Total length of this cave is approximately 100 m and at the entrance it is approximately 35 m high. Further inside the cave becomes narrower and turns per approximately 90 degrees. From the entrance of cave opens a view on Alboran Sea. It is possible that during further research the cave will become longer.
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