Sirgenstein Cave - Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura
Blaubeuren, Germany
25.06.2018
The Sirgenstein Cave: A Fascinating UNESCO World Heritage Site in Blaubeuren, Germany
The Sirgenstein Cave, located in the town of Blaubeuren in Germany, is a remarkable example of prehistoric art and a significant archaeological site. This cave, which was discovered in 1735, is one of the most important sites in the country and is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It is known for its exceptional collection of Ice Age art, including some of the oldest known figurative art in the world.
The cave is situated on the Swabian Alb, a mountain range in the state of Baden-Württemberg. It is a limestone cave that was formed by the erosion of water over millions of years. The entrance to the cave is located on the south side of the mountain, at an altitude of approximately 800 meters.
The Sirgenstein Cave is also famous for its archaeological findings, which date back to the Upper Paleolithic period, around 40,000 years ago. The most significant discovery in the cave was a small ivory figurine known as the "Venus of Hohle Fels", which is believed to be one of the oldest representations of a human figure. Other finds include stone tools, animal bones, and fragments of pottery, which provide important insights into the life and culture of the prehistoric inhabitants of the area.
The cave is also notable for its impressive rock formations and stalactites, which have been formed over thousands of years. These formations, combined with the natural light that enters the cave, create a truly breathtaking atmosphere inside.
Today, the Sirgenstein Cave is open to the public and can be visited as part of a guided tour. Visitors can marvel at the ancient art and artifacts, as well as the stunning natural features of the cave. It is a must-visit for anyone interested in archaeology, history, or simply the beauty of nature.
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Modern humans first arrived in Europe 43,000 years ago during the last ice age. One of the areas where they took up residence was the Swabian Jura in southern Germany. Excavated from the 1860s, six caves have revealed items dating from 43,000 to 33,000 years ago. Among them are carved figurines of animals (including cave lions, mammoths, horses and bovids), musical instruments and items of personal adornment. Other figurines depict creatures that are half animal, half human and there is one statuette of a woman. These archaeological sites feature some of the oldest figurative art worldwide and help shed light on the origins of human artistic development.
The small Sirgenstein Cave, German: Sirgensteinhöhle is situated 565 m (1,854 ft) above sea level inside the 20 m (66 ft) high Sirgenstein, a limestone rock. The cave sits 35 m (115 ft) above the Ach River valley bottom in the central Swabian Jura, southern Germany. Archaeologist R. R. Schmidt excavated the site in 1906 during which he identified indices of prehistoric human presence. He recorded the complete stratigraphic sequence of Palaeolithic and Neolithic origin. In his 1910 analysis Schmidt inspired future archaeologists with his pioneering concept of including the excavation site within its geographic region, contextualizing it within a wide scientific spectrum and demonstrated valuable results as he correlated the Sirgenstein layer structure to those of prehistoric sites in France. Mammoth ivory beads dating from 39,000 to 35,000 years ago have been uncovered at the cave. Because of its historical and cultural significance and its testimony to the development of Paleolithic art, the cave was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List as part of the Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura site in 2017.
The Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura are a collection of six caves in southern Germany which were used by Ice Age humans for shelter about 33,000 to 43,000 years ago. Within the caves were found the oldest non-stationary works of human art yet discovered, in the form of carved animal and humanoid figurines, in addition to the oldest musical instruments ever found. One statuette of a female form, carved figurines of animals (including cave lions, mammoths, horses and cattle), musical instruments and items of personal adornment have been discovered. Some of the figurines depict creatures that are half animal, half human. Because of their testimony to the development of Paleolithic art and culture, the six caves were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 2017.
The caves are seen as the first centre of human art, were named "cradle of art" and "cradle of civilization", with a continuous cultural heritage over 6000 years, and are among the first settlements of modern humans in Europe.
Bone flute from the Geissenklösterle cave, dated around c. 43,150–39,370 BP, are the oldest musical instruments ever found. The 41,000 to 39,000-year-old Lion Man and the 42,000 to 41,000-year-old Venus of Hohle Fels are the oldest confirmed sculptures in the world.
