Cave of Skulls

The Cave of Skulls was a cave used by the Tribe of Gum to hold prisoners. (TV: An Unearthly Child) It was located just behind the much larger great central cave. (PROSE: Doctor Who and an Unearthly Child)

It contained the skulls, many of them smashed in, of previous prisoners who had been held there. The First Doctor, Ian Chesterton, Barbara Wright and Susan were taken captive by the tribe and imprisoned there, before they were to be sacrificed to Orb. They were initially able to escape through a secret passage at the back of the cave, shown to them by one of the tribe.

After they were recaptured, they again escaped, this time by creating a distraction through use of torches and the damaged skulls. (TV: An Unearthly Child) As the group prepared their ruse, the Doctor encouraged Barbara to recount the story of Godfather Death by the Brothers Grimm to help put her at ease. (PROSE: The Knight, The Fool and The Dead) Pursued by the tribe, they were able to reach the safety of the TARDIS. (TV: An Unearthly Child)

Grotte aux Crânes