‘Dancing with Spirits’ came about because of my interest in a Mesolithic Cave not far from where I live.
The cave was discovered by some children, who were playing in a field during the 1970s. The field at that time belonged to Bower Farm. The land has now been sold and the farm is now known as Bower House.
In fact the cave is not even in Rugeley. it is about a mile from Etching Hill, the ‘Hill of Spirits’ in ‘Dancing with Spirits’.
The children came across two skulls lying next to the cave.
Investigations took place, and the skulls were identified as being younger than other bones later discovered in the cave, but still thousands of years old.
The skulls were identified as that of an older lady and the other a young woman.
I researched the cave for many years and often wondered about the ‘ancient bivouac’, and who the women were and what had caused their deaths.
Hearthstones were found at the cave entrance, many bones and teeth were also uncovered when archaeologists did a dig. Flint knives and various tools were amongst the items discovered.
I was fortunate that Hanley Museum sent me the results of the investigations carried out by Bristol University, who did an in depth study on the teeth and bones. I found it amazing that they could actually tell the ages of the people from their investigation and the type of food they ate etc.
One day I was thinking about the cave -
The cave and its story still fascinate me and always will. Whenever I pass the field I think of the inhabitants of the settlement.
cas.arnall@ntlworld.com