From a scientific point of view, many caves (e.g. Victoria Cave) are time capsules, with flora, fauna, bacteria, minerals and fossils that hold treasures from an immensely large timescale compared to human life on earth. Additionally caves present themselves as archives for understanding peoples’ mythological landscapes and how they have evolved. Victoria Cave produced prominent artifacts, including evidence of the first humans in the Dales starting in 12,500 BC. All three caves present repeated evidence throughout the centuries of mortuary activities indicating that people used the Dales caves to mediate with the spirit world. By the Romano-British, AD 100 to 450 period, various Roman military accoutrements were found around Ingleborough Cave and the inside of Victoria Cave was used as a shrine and there was a workshop area outside. If you feel like reading more, here are some references: Lord, T., et. al. (2017). The Pleistocene laminated sediments of Victoria Cave, North Yorkshire, UK: characteristics, age and significance. Cave and Karst Science. 44. 143-144. Lord, T., et al. (2012). A guide to work at Victoria Cave-from the 19'h to the 21" centuries. Cave Archaeology and Karst Geomorphology of North West England. Field Guide. 84-97. Otley, Jonathan., (1823). Guidebook, A Descriptive Guide of the English Lakes. Published by Kirky Lonsdale, Cumbria, 8th ed. 1849, 193; Lord, Tom & Howard, John. (2013). Cave Archaeology in the Yorkshire Dales.

view from victoria cave.