Fossil finds at Stump Cross Caverns: the story so far

Around 180 million years ago, the area we now call Yorkshire was covered with a warm and shallow sea that was bursting with marine life.

Over time – and we're talking a long, long time – these water-dwelling creatures died and turned into fossils. It's why the region's Jurassic coast is still a prime destination for fossil-hunters from all over the country and beyond.

And here at Stump Cross Caverns in North Yorkshire, our limestone chambers and passageways have been the site of many thrilling fossil finds. These include fossils made from the bones of wolverines, reindeer, bison and Arctic foxes.

The majority of these bones come from the Ice Age – a time when the Earth was largely covered in thick sheets of ice. Some are now at the Natural History Museum in London.

If there's one thing to say about prehistory, it's that there's a lot of it. Humans have barely scratched the surface and continue to find fossils year on year. Here at Stump Cross, volunteers found a wolverine jawbone as recently as early 2026.

These fossils are beautiful, fascinating objects that conjure up images of the Earth before human civilisation as we now know it began.

But they also help scientists understand more about the Earth's climates and how animals have evolved. We're proud to have played our part in this ongoing collaborative scientific effort.

Fossils found at Stump Cross Caverns

Wolverines

Among the most notable finds at Stump Cross Caverns have been a selection of wolverine bones. These have been discovered over a hundred-year period.

The first discovery was in 1922, when Christopher Long and friends made their seminal excavation of the caves. This trip shaped our understanding of the cave network.

Long and his companions found the skull of a wolverine – a brown, bear-like member of the weasel family long since extinct in the UK.

In 2011, a wolverine tibia was found. But perhaps the most exciting discovery since 1922 came in early 2026.

At the time of writing, Stump Cross Caverns is changing. See, the caves and passageways open to the public are the tip of the iceberg. The network continues to snake outwards under the Earth – but these hidden passageways are mostly blocked or dangerous to access.

Working with our team of volunteers from Craven Pothole Club, we're currently clearing out one of these long-forgotten grottoes: the previously unopened C Chamber.

This chamber will be another fascinating addition to our cave. It will also make Stump Cross Caverns a circular route for visitors to explore.

It's hard manual labour that involves shifting tonnes of Ice Age mud and sediment. Among the muck, however, volunteers have discovered the lower half of a rare wolverine jawbone.

Volunteer Tom Thompson told the BBC: "I couldn't believe it. We had been hoping for something like this, but when I washed it and looked at it, I was really rather taken aback".

The fossil has been dated between 80,000 and 90,000 years old. So, how did this wolverine – and the others whose bones have been found – end up in our caves?

The probable answer is a little grisly. So, if you're faint of heart, you may want to jump to the next section.

It seems likely that the wolverines became trapped in the caves because of flooding. Stuck without food, they either starved or drowned. The carcasses were then gobbled up by carnivores, including other wolverines. (Told you it was grisly.)

Reindeer

Four nearly complete reindeer skeletons and the skeleton of an unborn reindeer were discovered in 1922 by Christopher Long and his fellow adventurers.

Reindeer were a common sight in prehistoric Britain. In fact, they only went extinct as late as medieval times – victims of climate change, deforestation and overhunting.

Today, reindeer have been reintroduced to Scotland. Around 150 of the beautiful beasts make up the free-ranging Cairngorm Reindeer Herd.

Other Ice Age mammals

Aside from these major finds, cavers and volunteers have also found the fossils of bison and foxes in our caves. It all raises the tantalising question: what next?

What fossils could be found next?

It's highly likely that there are plenty more fossils to be discovered in Stump Cross – especially now that the C Chamber excavation project is underway.

This project involves digging out buckets and buckets of mud. But this isn't any ordinary mud. It's prehistoric mud from tens of thousands of years ago.

That's why we're inviting visitors this summer to take part in the Ice Age Dig.

In this one-of-a-kind event, participants get to take part in a real palaeontological excavation. As you help sift through the ancient mud, there's a very real chance you could turn up a fossil or even a Stone Age tool.

Oh, and if you find a calcite crystal, stalactite or stalagmite, you can take it home with you – a slice of prehistoric life to put on your mantelpiece.

So, why not make prehistory at our Ice Age Dig this summer? It's easy to book tickets online.

Frequent fossil questions (FFQs)

How are fossils formed?
Fossils are formed when an animal or plant dies and gets buried by sediment (mud, sand or ash). Over millions of years, the sediment hardens into rock. Minerals seep into the remains and the organic tissue that made up the animal or plant is now replaced with stone.
What do fossils teach us?
Fossils teach us a huge amount about ancient life. They provide evidence for evolution, help scientists date the layers of rock and assist in the mapping of changes to climates over long periods.

Historically, fossils have had a seismic impact on science. Their discovery and categorisation established the realities of extinction and paved the way for the theory of evolution. Not bad for a bunch of old bones!