Cave dig unearths important finds 英国：山洞考古重大发现

Teeth and bones from late Ice Age animals, including hyenas, deer and woolly rhinos, have been discovered by archaeologists at a cave in Devon.

英国德文郡的考古学家在一个山洞中发现了冰河时期的动物牙齿和骨骼，包括斑鬣狗、鹿和犀牛。

The dig is part of a study into why and when Neanderthals became extinct

The dig at Kents Cavern, Torquay, also unearthed a 15,000-year-old spearpoint（矛头）, known as a "sagaie", which is made from reindeer（驯鹿） antler（鹿角） from the same era.

The spearpoint is thought to be the first complete one found in the UK.

The dig, organised by the University of Durham and the University of Sheffield, is part of a study into Neanderthals.

Improve understanding

The team at the helm（掌舵，掌权） of the privately-funded dig is trying to discover exactly when and why Neanderthals became extinct.

It is also hoping to discover when our own species first came to the UK and if it is connected to the death of Neanderthal Man, as well as finding out more about the nature of later Ice Age life in the cave.

Some items found during the dig are sent away, after cleaning, for radiocarbon dating（放射性碳测定年龄） to accurately check their age.

It is believed that the teeth and bones from the hyena could date back more than 25,000 years.

Dr Paul Pettitt, senior lecturer in archaeology（考古学） at the University of Sheffield, said: "Our excavation（挖掘，发掘） is still in its early days but has already unearthed excellently-preserved fossils（化石） and a spearpoint of antler from the Ice Age.

"Our research will dramatically improve our understanding of life between 10,000 and 50,000 years ago."

Before the dig could go ahead, permission had to be sought from the government because Kents Cavern is the oldest recognisable human dwelling（住处） in Britain and is classed as a Scheduled Ancient Monument.