The Blätterhöhle cave in Hagen, Germany, has become a significant archaeological site in Westphalia due to recent remarkable discoveries from the Stone Age. Researchers from the Landschaftsverband Westfalen-Lippe (LWL), the city of Hagen, and the universities of Bochum and Cologne have unearthed an ancient hearth around 9,000 years old and three flint arrowheads inside the cave, along with a harpoon fragment found outside. These findings, described as extraordinary by experts, have generated great excitement.
The excavation of this hearth is a discovery that provides valuable information about the last phase of the Mesolithic, or Middle Stone Age, and the practices of ancient hunter-gatherers in the region. The hearth, measuring approximately 70 centimeters, was surrounded by a circle of limestone stones showing clear marks of heat exposure.
Carbon-14 analysis on two charcoal samples dated the hearth to a period between 6500 and 7000 BC, a time when humans relied primarily on hunting and gathering. According to researchers, the discovery is unique to the Blätterhöhle.
This year, in addition to the hearth, researchers have also explored older sediment layers in the cave, corresponding to the final phase of the Paleolithic. Among the items found were three flint arrowheads, in perfect condition. These arrowheads, considered unusual for the Westphalian archaeological context, add to the series of exceptional finds at this site and confirm the regional importance of Blätterhöhle.
LWL archaeologist Professor Michael Baales expressed his excitement about the rarity of these artifacts and their relevance to the study of human communities that lived in Europe at the end of the last glaciation.
Another significant discovery from this campaign is the fragment of a harpoon with a single row of barbs, found outside the cave. This harpoon fragment measures 4.9 centimeters and shows two barbs in good condition, making it an exceptional find in Westphalia and surrounding regions. Specialists note that while it is not yet possible to precisely date the artifact, its typology matches other late Paleolithic harpoons, commonly used in hunting large animals in lake or river areas.
However, the harpoon was found in a more recent sediment layer, raising questions about its exact location and possible displacement by animal activity. To obtain more data and determine its chronology, experts believe further research is necessary.
The excavations at Blätterhöhle, conducted from August to October, were made possible by collaboration between several organizations, including Stadtarchäologie Hagen and the University of Bochum, led by Professor Jörg Orschiedt and archaeologist Wolfgang Heuschen.
Over 20 students from various universities participated in this campaign, marking the twentieth anniversary of the cave’s first excavation in 2004—a milestone that has established Blätterhöhle as a site of great value for German archaeology.
This year’s campaign covered layers dating from the Paleolithic to the Neolithic, providing a more comprehensive view of human occupation in the region over thousands of years.
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