Bockstein Cave
Bocksteinhöhle | |
 Bockstein Cave entry | |
  location in Germany  Bockstein Cave (Germany) | |
| Location | Lone Rivervalley |
|---|---|
| Region | Swabian Jura,Baden-Württemberg,Germany |
| Coordinates | 48°34′47″N10°12′45″E/ 48.57972°N 10.21250°E |
| Type | karstcave |
| Length | 20 m (66 ft) |
| Width | 15 m (49 ft) |
| History | |
| Material | limestone |
| Cultures | Mousterian,Aurignacian,Micoquien,Magdalénien |
| Associated with | Homo neanderthalensis,Homo sapiens |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1881, 1932, 1933, 1953 |
| Archaeologists | Ludwig Bürger, Friedrich Lösch, Robert Wetzel, Anton Bamberger |
| Official name | Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura |
| Type | Cultural |
| Criteria | iii |
| Designated | 2017(41stsession) |
| Reference no. | 1527 |
| Region | Europe and North America |
TheBockstein Cave,German:Bocksteinhöhleis part of theBockstein complex– aWhite Jurassiclimestone rock massif. The 15 by 20 m (49 by 66 ft) rock shelter, among small peripheral caves is situated around 12 m (39 ft) above theLone Rivervalley bottom, north of the towns of Rammingen and Öllingen,Heidenheim districtin the centralSwabian Jura,southern Germany. Several small openings, that are the actual entrances to the site, lead to various cave sections. The large frontal opening is of modern origin, created during the first excavation works in the late 19th century.[1]
AmongMesolithicandNeolithicstone tools and artefacts numerous bone fossils, that date back 50,000 to 70,000 years were found, making the location the oldest known settlement complex ofNeanderthalsin southern Germany. Moreover, the ca. 8,000 year old and relatively well preserved skeletons of a woman and an infant were discovered.[2]Because of its historical and cultural significance and its testimony to the development of Paleolithic culture, the cave was inscribed on theUNESCOWorld Heritage Listas part of theCaves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jurasite in 2017.[3]
Site
[edit]The Bockstein is one of theLonetalcaves that didn't need to be discovered as it had always been open and accessible. Amateurs Ludwig Bürger and Dr. Friedrich Lösch first probed the site in 1881 and, well funded by the localAssociation for Art and Antiquity in Ulm und Oberschwaben,undertook excavations in 1883/84.[4]
In a thorough excavation of the central rock shelter down to the rock bottom, rich sediments of cultures of the younger Paleolithic (AurignacianandMagdalénien) were dug out and examined. The soils of around a dozen layers contained a great number of fossilized objects (tools, bones, charcoal etc.). The artefacts included flint blades, bone tips, pierced teeth for attachments and a worked reindeer antler rod. In addition, personal ornaments were found, including pendants made out of ivory and stone.[5]From Neolithic cultural stratae on top of theglaciallayers, fossilized bone fragments and debris and ceramic shards were salvaged. The quality and composition of these Neolithic objects suggests, that the site was only used as a temporary shelter by the local Homo sapiens population.[4]
In 1908, in a small test excavation Tübingen scholar R. R. Schmidt dug a control profile in order to probe the western hatching of the cave, which however only brought limited stratigraphic results.
From 1932 to 1935 Robert Wetzel excavated the Bockstein massif's peripheral sections, such as theBocksteinschmiedeand theWestern Hole.There he found and documentedMesolithicsediments, that containedMicoquienhand axes,celts,adzesand very distinct flint blade knives, which he subsequently referred to as theBocksteinmesser(Bockstein knife).[6]
In the summer and autumn of 1953 he excavated the slopes in front and the entrance areas of the central cave and theBocksteinschmiede,where he came upon still undisturbed layers. Just west of the large entrance hole, which had only been made by Ludwig Bürger during the 1883/84 excavation, these reached a depth of up to three meters. The actual Paleolithic entrance location of the cave, named (German:das Törle- the small gate) by Wetzel, could be determined after a broad connection between the newly found and exposed layers and the inner cave sediments was discovered.[4][6]
Stratigraphy
[edit]The profile found below the old Paleolithic entrance (das Törle - the small gate) from top to bottom:
- Layer I: Black humus with limestone pieces and fine limestone debris (Neolithic).
- Layer II: Gravel with black-brown to brown soil (microlithic culture).
- Layer III: fine gravel in yellowish loess soil (above microlithic culture).
- Layer IV: loess soil with coarse limestone pieces (Magdalenian).
- Layer V: loess soil with even coarser lime (Magdalenian).
- Layer VI: Loess with coarse chunks of limestone and traces of fireplaces (Aurignacian).
- Layer VII: Reddish violet-brown culture soil and large quantity of small to medium-sized limestone debris (Aurignacian).
- Layer VIII: brownish yellow clay (Mousterian).
- Layer IX: yellow clay, often sintered.
- Layer X: brown clay and bone deposit.
- Layer XI: yellow, partly reddish soil.[4]
Carbon dated fossils
[edit]| Lab number | Material | Normalized Age | Locality |
|---|---|---|---|
| KIA-8955 | horse metapodal, fresh break | 46380 ± 1360 | local |
| KIA-8954 | reindeer femur(?), fresh break | 44390 ± 990 | local |
| H-4059-3527 | mixed bone sample | 31965 ± 790 | local |
| KIA-8953 | reindeer radius-ulna, fresh break | 31530 ± 230 | local |
| KIA-8952 | reindeer metatarsal, fresh break | 30130 ± 260 | local |
| W-279 | Rangifer tarandus antler | 24000 ± 3000 | local |
| H-4049-3356 | mixed bone sample | 26133 ± 376 | local |
| KIA-8956 | long bone fragment with fresh break | 20990 ± 120 | local |
Source:[7]
The rock shelter is now in danger of collapse. There is a wooden shelter above the cave. In 2017, the cave was included in the UNESCO World Heritage list as part of theCaves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura.
The Bockstein fossils and artefacts are exhibited in theUlm City Museum.[8][9]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ^"Bocksteinhöhle / Bockstein Cave".Sketchfab.RetrievedDecember 15,2019.
- ^Jörg Orschiedtl."Mesolithic human remains from Southern Germany".RetrievedDecember 15,2019.
- ^"Caves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura".UNESCO World Heritage Centre.UNESCO.Retrieved24 September2022.
- ^abcdRobert Wetzel."Das Törle an der alten Bocksteinhöhle - Von Robert Wetzel in Tübingen"(PDF).Verein für Naturwissenschaft und Mathematik Ulm.RetrievedDecember 15,2019.
- ^Kind, Claus-Joachim; Meister, Conny; Heidenreich, Stephan M. (2016).Caves with the Oldest Ice Age Art -- World Heritage Nomination(Report). Landesamt für Denkmalpflege im Regierungspräsidium Stuttgart.Retrieved24 September2022.
- ^abR. Wetzel."Quartärforschung im Lonetal"(PDF).Quaternary Science Journal.RetrievedDecember 15,2019.
- ^"CARD Germany / Bockstein-Torle".Canadianarchaeology ca.RetrievedDecember 15,2019.
- ^"Die Bocksteinhöhle und die Bocksteinschmiede".Lonetal Net.RetrievedDecember 15,2019.
- ^"Die Archäologische Sammlung".Museum Ulm.RetrievedDecember 15,2019.