Pixie's Hole
{{Short description|Cave in Devon, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Infobox cave
|name=Pixie's Hole
|other_name=Pixie's Cave
|photo=250px
|photo_width=250px
|photo_alt=
|photo_caption=The cave entrance
|map=Devon
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|map_caption=Shown within Devon
|location=Chudleigh Rock, Devon, England
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|grid_ref_UK=SX 86540 78665
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Pixie's Hole is a limestone cave system which is situated on the south side of the Chudleigh Rock, close to the village of Chudleigh, Devon, England. It is listed as a Scheduled Monument by Historic England and was first listed in 1992.{{NHLE|num=1010740|desc=Pixie's Hole, Chudleigh Rocks, Chudleigh |accessdate=2019-08-10}}
Description
Pixie's Hole is situated on the north side of the Kate Brook Valley at the limestone outcrop known as Chudleigh Rock. From the entrance of the cave, the eastern passage extends towards the "Pope's Chamber" over a distance of about 30 metres.
Excavations
Investigations of the cave were undertaken in the 19th century but proved inconclusive. In 1825, the geologist and paleontologist William Buckland visited Pixies Hole, among several other caves.{{Cite web|url=http://www.pengellytrust.org/museum/palaeontology.htm|title=Pengelly Trust, Museum Page.|website=www.pengellytrust.org|access-date=2019-08-10}}
New excavations were conducted in the late 1970s inside the cave about 10m from the entrance. These revealed a rich concentration of Late Upper Palaeolithic artefacts and animal bones beneath a stalagmite floor.