An international team of scientists presents an analysis of sediments from a cave in northeast Greenland, that cover a time period between about 588,000 to 549,000 years ago. This interval was warmer and wetter than today, the cave deposits provide an outlook in a possible future warmer world due to climate change.

Geologists unexpectedly found mineral deposits in former ice caves in the Austrian Alps dating back to the peak of the last ice age. These special calcite crystals demonstrate that intensive snowfall during the second half of the year triggered a massive glacier advance leading to the climax of the last ice age.

Diary In person CSCC meetings take place at 10:30 am in the back bar of the Hunter's Lodge, Priddy. Online CSCC meetings take place via Zoom. Anyone interested in the Council's business may attend as an observer. If you have any items to add to the diary please contact the

Diary In person CSCC meetings take place at 10:30 am in the back bar of the Hunter's Lodge, Priddy. Online CSCC meetings take place via Zoom. Anyone interested in the Council's business may attend as an observer. If you have any items to add to the diary please contact the

Documents Forms If you have any expense claims please use one of the following forms: * [CSCC Expenses Form (.pdf)] * [CSCC Expenses Form (Excel format)] Minutes and Officer Reports 2021 * GM Monday 15 Feb 2021 [Agenda] [BCA Rep Report] [C&A Report] [Training Programme] [Draft Minutes 24-02-2021] 2020 * GM Fri 20th Nov 2020 * [Agenda] [Draft Minutes 27-11-20][C & A Report] [BCA Rep Report] [Training Rep Summary] [BCA Training proposed changes] * EGM in lieu of postponed …

Welcome Dear Southern Cavers, Well it looks like there may be light at the end of the lockdown tunnel as the vaccination programme proceeds at pace and warmer weather is on the way. I know we have all been frustrated with most of us stranded above ground for the best part of a year, but I am sure we can look forward to greater flexibility to get underground in the not too far distant future.

Welcome Dear Southern Cavers, Well it looks like there may be light at the end of the lockdown tunnel as the vaccination programme proceeds at pace and warmer weather is on the way. I know we have all been frustrated with most of us stranded above ground for the best part of a year, but I am sure we can look forward to greater flexibility to get underground in the not too far distant future.

News Catalogue This page contains a list of all news items published in reverse date order. 2021 24 Feb 2021 Message from Chairman re Coronavirus 8 Feb 2021 WARNING - Rockfall in G.B. Cave - Update 2 Feb 2021 WARNING - Rockfall in G.B. Cave 9 Jan 2021 Coronavirus Lockdown Mark 3 2020 2 Nov 2020 CSCC and MCR: Joint Statement on Coronavirus Lockdown Mark 2 30 Oct 2020 Annual J’Rat Digging Awards 11 Oct 2020 Access to Caves in Cheddar Gorge

News For a list of all news items see the News Catalogue (work in progress). For previous news see the News Archive. Star Mine Shaft It has been reported that the P-hangers in the concrete capping have been vandalised. They should be considered unsafe and must not be used. The shaft should be rigged using natural belays such as nearby trees (approx 10m away). If anyone has any information about who caused the damage please let us know. In view of the vandalism there are no immediate plans …

CSCC and MCR: Joint Statement on Coronavirus Lockdown Mark 2 Dear Southern Cavers, As most all of you will be aware, the government announced on Saturday that new lockdown measures will be introduced from Thursday 5th November in an attempt to control the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. The details of these measures can be found at

Coronavirus Lockdown Mark 3 Dear Southern Cavers, As all of you are now no doubt aware the UK is now in the throws of the third national lockdown and this places severe restrictions on our hobby. I would draw your attention to the statement made by the CNCC a few days ago (reproduced below), which provides some excellent advice and is applicable down south as it is up north. The CNCC advice reads;

Message from Chairman re Coronavirus Dear Southern Cavers, Well it looks like there may be light at the end of the lockdown tunnel as the vaccination programme proceeds at pace and warmer weather is on the way. I know we have all been frustrated with most of us stranded above ground for the best part of a year, but I am sure we can look forward to greater flexibility to get underground in the not too far distant future.

WARNING - Rockfall in G.B. Cave From Charterhouse Caving Company Ltd - 2nd Feb 2021 I have received a report of a substantial rockfall in G.B. I am told that “In the region of 5-10 tons of sand, gravel and rock has slipped out of the left hand wall, just below the waterfall. There is a significant amount that has been undercut, but is still hanging high above the climb down. This appears to be very recent, given that the sand has not washed away yet and there was a pretty decent flow.”

Annual J’Rat Digging Awards Owing to COVID19, there will not be an event held in the Hunters for 2020 for the presentation of the Silver Shovel for Mendip and Scotland finds, but we don’t want the finds since 1st November 2019 to 31st October 2020 to go unrewarded and unnoticed!

WARNING - Rockfall in G.B. Cave - Update From Charterhouse Caving Company Ltd - 8th Feb 2021 “The site of the reported rockfall in GB near the waterfall climb in Main Chamber has been checked. There has been a recent fall of mud, gravel and smallish boulders on the left (when viewed facing downstream) of the waterfall climb, near the bottom. The wall above the last part of the climb (the big steps) appears as it did before, but should be considered loose due to the recent fall. The top part is…

CSCC and MCR: Joint Statement on Coronavirus, Lockdown Mk 2 and Caving in the South Dear Southern Cavers, As most all of you will be aware, the government announced on Saturday that new lockdown measures will be introduced from Thursday 5th November in an attempt to control the ongoing COVID 19 pandemic. The details of these measures can be found at

Access to Caves in Cheddar Gorge Further to the decision by Longleat to close the show caves and suspend their operations in Cheddar, they have notified CSCC that with immediate effect caver access to all caves on Longleat property which includes the whole south side of the Gorge, is no longer available. This includes all caves and digs, and affects sites such as Reservoir Hole, Spider Hole, Goughs Cave, Long Hole, Great Oones etc.

Diary In person CSCC meetings take place at 10:30 am in the back bar of the Hunter's Lodge, Priddy. Online CSCC meetings take place via Zoom. Anyone interested in the Council's business may attend as an observer. If you have any items to add to the diary please contact the