When people talk of shelter in an emergency situation, they’re usually talking about making an improvised shelter from materials that they find around them - whether man-made or natural. But sometimes it’s best just to slow down and take a good look at what’s around you.
Caves and overhangs have been known to be used for shelter since Homo antecessor was present in Western Europe between about 1.2 million and 0.8 million years ago. Cave occupations range from the ‘opportunistic’ to the ‘truly remarkable’ - think, for example, Mesa Verde cave dwellings in Colorado that are thought to have been occupied around 600 to 1300 CE.
Whatever form the shelter takes, caves allow you to escape the wind, rain and sun - all at the same time. If you’re lucky, you might also find water, food and bait (eg. cave crickets and flies etc) inside.
If you’ve used a cave or overhang as an emergency shelter, contact us. We’d love to share your story - maybe we can all learn something.
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