During archaeological investigations in the Ansbach district, Bavaria, Germany, in 2022, thousands of cave bear bones from the Stone Age and various stone tools were uncovered. Between August and October of this year, archaeologists stumbled upon additional findings during new excavations, presumably dating back to the Paleolithic era.
Of particular interest to scientists is the discovery of seven remarkably well-preserved cave bear jaw fragments found during the initial excavation. Along with other bones, they now complete nearly the entire skeleton of the large animal.
In the 1,200-square-meter site, more than 10,000 animal bones were found, with almost all belonging to cave bears. However, this year and the previous one also yielded remains of an upper jaw and some teeth, presumably from a cave hyena, as well as bones from wild horses, mammoths, rhinoceroses, and wolves.
Burn marks on small individual bone fragments and stone artifacts with clear signs of processing indicate that this area around Endsee was not only inhabited by animals but was already frequented in the early days of human history. But why was this place so attractive to both humans and animals?
The large number of cave bear bones suggests that the location, situated on the edge of the Frankenhöhe, was characterized by caves during the Paleolithic. Over millennia, the caves have presumably disappeared due to erosion processes.
Radiocarbon analysis of animal bones suggests that the caves were used by cave bears between 45,000 and 25,000 B.C., presumably for hibernation and raising cubs. At first glance, the stone tools could date back to the Middle Paleolithic (approx. 300,000 – 45,000 B.C.), a time when large parts of Central Europe were populated by Neanderthals.
Whether it was Neanderthals or anatomically modern humans who truly established their resting and hunting place at the foot of Endsee Castle hill has not yet been conclusively clarified.
We are talking about discoveries from an unimaginably long period of at least 20,000 years. We still do not know for sure what relationship the Endsee cave bears had with early humans or Neanderthals. The mammoth, wild horse, and rhinoceros bones are undoubtedly hunting and scavenging remains, probably from hunters, as cave bears were likely vegetarians, says Dr. Christoph Lobinger, archaeologist at the Bavarian State Office for Monument Conservation (BLfD).
After an archaeological excavation company has cleaned and inventoried the findings, the stone tools will be handed over to the BLfD, and the site will be studied. From that point on, they will be available for scientific research on the relationship between Neanderthals and Homo sapiens sapiens.
The animal bones, on the other hand, are analyzed by archaeozoologists to determine the species, age, and sex of the animals. Other analyses, such as isotopes, could clarify how the animals were fed and how far they ventured from their caves to find food.
Sources
Bayerisches Landesamt für Denkmalpflege
- Share this article:
Discover more from LBV Magazine English Edition
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
The oldest reigning dynasty in the world is the Imperial House of Japan, descended from a shaman queen
If we were to ask what is the world’s oldest active monarchy, most readers would probably say the British without giving it much thought. That would be an incorrect answer.…
The World Red Swastika Society, the ancient Chinese organization created in imitation of the Red Cross
No one should be alarmed by the title of this article because it has nothing to do with Nazism. We are going to talk about the Shìjiè Hóngwànzìhuì, an expression…
Shabaka Stone, the most notable preserved document of Egyptian thought, recounting the myth of creation
The Shabaka Stone is a granite slab from the 25th Egyptian Dynasty, housed in the British Museum, containing the Memphite theology that regarded Ptah as the supreme god and creator.…
Byzantine Emperor Basil II Ordered the Blinding of Thousands of Prisoners Taken at the Battle of Kleidion
In an era long before any concept of dignified treatment for defeated enemies, during a time when losing on the battlefield often opened the door to the most bloodthirsty barbarities,…
Biagio da Cesena, the Cardinal Caricatured by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel for Criticizing Nudity in His Paintings
There are historical figures who have gone down in history more for some inconsequential anecdote than for the significance they had in the context in which they lived. This is…
The Exceptional Roman Villa “Grotte di Catullo” on the Shores of Lake Garda is One of the Northernmost in Italy
Located at the northern tip of the Sirmione peninsula, on the shores of majestic Lake Garda in Italy, the ruins of the Roman villa known as Grotte di Catullo represent…
Archaeologists Reveal the Great Sanctuary of Mount Sant’Angelo in Terracina was Dedicated to Venus Instead of Jupiter
In a day of great significance for the history and culture of Terracina, important archaeological discoveries were presented, rewriting part of the past of this ancient Italian city. The event…
Buildings, Cuneiform Tablets, Cylinder Seals, and More Than 400 Archaeological Artifacts Unearthed in Ancient Babylon
In a significant advancement for archaeology in Iraq, an excavation expedition in the historic province of Babylon has uncovered a total of 478 archaeological artifacts, marking a milestone in the…
DNA-like geometric structure discovered in space-time
An international team of scientists, composed of researchers from the Complutense University of Madrid, Saint Louis University’s Madrid campus, and the University of California, has proposed a new theory suggesting…
Search for the Skull and Extraction of the Complete Skeleton of the Heaviest Animal to Have Ever Existed on Earth Begins in Peru
The vast Ica desert in Peru, a remote and difficult-to-access region, captured the scientific world’s attention in 2023 thanks to a colossal discovery: the first remains of Perucetus colossus, an…
“Ancestral Disc” of the Milky Way Identified, Formed 13.5 Billion Years Ago
An international team of astronomers has identified and characterized the oldest disc in our galaxy, the Milky Way, which they have named PanGu. PanGu, whose name comes from Chinese mythology…
The entire Maya city of Ucanal and its inhabitants were contaminated with mercury
A recent study published in the Journal of Archaeological Science: Reports has revealed mercury contamination in the ancient water reservoirs of the Maya city of Ucanal, located in Petén, Guatemala.…
Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.
