A cave of Yorkshire Dells has discovered the remains of a extinct breed of cattle of the bronze era by archaeologists.
Researchers working with cave explorers exposed the remains of an auroch while surveying several caves and synchings near Ingaleboro.
The team also found evidence of the area being used as a human burial site during the Neolithic period.
A spokesman said the discoveries highlighted how caves were used by those who lived in deles and cultivated.
Aroch was once found across Europe before the loss of the residence and the victim wiped them into the 17th century. They are re -prepared as a wild ancestor of modern cattle.
The Ingleboro Cave Archaeological Project is part of a £ 3M scheme, funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, aimed at achieving the future of the upland common in Yorkshire Dells, Dartmur, Lake District and Shropshire Hills.
This played an important role in highlighting underground history, requiring expert skills to access some chosen cave sites.
Rick Peterson, a caveing archaeologist at the University of Central Lancashire, said: “This is often the experience of local cavers that are the first to face archaeological discoveries as they are only those who can reach caves.
“This partnership now ensures that any discovery made during entertaining caveing is officially documented.”
Along with examining the history of Ingleboro, the project also saw ways to engage today’s farmers in sustainable and adaptive land management practices.
Ingboro is one of the few places in England where the “normal” traditions live with nearly a dozen farmers, who are still grazing the sheep on the ground under the rights of dating Magna Carta.
Project Officer Claire Braburn said: “Ingleboro has a long history as a normal land, so we wanted to see if the caves kept proof of how long man started farming.
“Half of England had mango land, but now it is just 3%. This project has helped us more to understand more about human conversations with long biodiversity of mangoes and land.
“It has been shown how important it is to preserve these ancient practices or we risk losing them forever.”
