GORHAMS CAVE COMPLEX

Gorham’s Cave is a natural sea cave located on the southeast face of the rock of Gibraltar. It is of huge archaeological significance and is considered to be one of the last known habitations of the Neanderthals in the world.

The cave is named after Captain A. Gorham of the 2nd Battalion Royal Munster Fusiliers who discovered it in 1907. It has been excavated to varying degrees over the years and is currently managed by Professor Clive Finlayson, Director of the Gibraltar Museum who has been responsible for its nomination as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
To assist in the preservation and ongoing maintenance of the site, the Museum of Gibraltar along with the local Government have had the area 3D laser scanned and modelled. This data provides a detailed 3D record of the caves that will be vital for future conservation management.

The survey was required for a number of purposes. Firstly, it would be used to document the cliff face from the Monkeys Cave convalescent hospital all the way down to both Gorhams and Vanguards cave. This survey would be used for essential design works to improve the access to these areas.

It would also be used to create a detailed 3D record of the internals of the caves, although surveyed conventionally in the past a 3D survey would provide an invaluable snap shot in time. Finally, the data would also be used to create a number of different interactive deliverables, these included a video fly through, a reconstruction of the cave, ortho rectified images and an online micro site and virtual tour.