Archaeologically rich limestone cave below Queen's Road on Gibraltar.
Pete’s Paradise Cave is a cave in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, located sixteen metres below Queen’s Road near Ape’s Den. Explored from 1966 by the Gibraltar Cave Research Group led by George Palao, it yielded four Neolithic-period skeletons, grave goods, stone tools, and notable rimstone pools and cave pearls.
Pete’s Paradise Cave is a cave in the British Overseas Territory of Gibraltar, situated sixteen metres below Queen’s Road near Ape’s Den. It was discovered on 26 February 1966 by members of the Gibraltar Cave Research Group while abseiling down the Rock, and named after group member Peter Mann. The cave has a single entrance about one metre high and six metres wide. Inside are four main chambers: Nun’s Chamber at the entrance; Rimstone Chamber, with rimstone pools at different levels; Pearl’s Chamber, reached by crawling through a tight eight‑metre passage and containing cave pearls formed around grains of sand; and the Hall of Pillars, described as the best chamber and holding one of three perfect rimstones in Gibraltar. Excavations in 1966 uncovered numerous prehistoric artefacts, including shards of Neolithic pottery, bones, stone tools, chert engraving tools and an engraved bone bead. Bones of rabbit, ape, ox and many rodents were found. Four human skeletons, possibly Neolithic, were discovered, two female and two male, with at least two female skulls crushed and accompanied by clay pots, stone tools, a pendant and stone armlets and anklets. Surveys show many stalactites broken and pools disturbed, underlining preservation concerns.