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A team of archeologists is currently revisiting one of Jersey's most significant – but least well-known – archaeological sites that may have first been inhabited up to 250,000 years ago.
La Cotte à la Chèvre, a small cave in Gronez, is quite possibly one of the earliest inhabited places in the Channel Islands.
La Cotte à la Chèvre was discovered by local enthusiasts in 1881 and although it is smaller than the better-known La Cotte de St Brelade at Ouaisné, which is still being excavated, artefacts discovered at the site suggest it might have been occupied by Neanderthal hunters 250,000 years ago.
Excavation at La Cotte à la Chèvre has unearthed a collection of about 16,000 artefacts, including stone tools and animal bones.
An archaeological team led by Dr Josie Mills, who has studied Palaeolithic sites in Jersey since 2010, is currently working at the Sir Francis Cook Gallery to protect, repackage and catalogue material excavated from La Cotte à la Chèvre.
Pictured: La Cotte à la Chèvre
Josie said: “I am so excited to be working back in Jersey after a long hiatus due to the pandemic. The La Chèvre archive is very close to my heart as it is the first collection that I worked on as an archaeologist.
"During this project, my team and I will begin the process of reorganising and curating the stored artefacts and environmental samples from the cave. Through this, we hope to raise the profile of this important Neanderthal site and encourage people to engage with and study the artefacts.”
The archaeologists will be in Jersey for three weeks working alongside Jersey Heritage’s Curator of Archaeology Olga Finch.
Pictured: Dr Josie Mills excavating a site near Les Varines.
Olga Finch said: “There are only a few known sites in Jersey with deposits that date back to the Island’s deep history, which is why the artefacts discovered at La Cotte à la Chèvre are so important to Jersey’s Ice Age story and can provide an important insight into Neanderthal behaviour in the area.
"By the end of this project, we will have a well-curated collection that is properly recorded and with online access to descriptions of the material for anyone wanting to research the ancient cave.”
There will be a free public talk about the La Cotte à la Chèvre collection at the Sir Francis Cook Gallery on Thursday, 4 May at 7pm. There is no need to book a place.
Express spoke to Dr Josie Mills in-depth about her work... Listen below or by searching 'Bailiwick Podcasts' wherever you get your podcasts...
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