| Wildenmannlisloch | |
|---|---|
| Wildmannlisloch | |
 View from the cave's entrance looking towards theWildhuser Schafberg | |
  Location in Switzerland Show map of Switzerland Location in the canton of St. Gallen Show map of Canton of St. Gallen | |
| Location | |
| Coordinates | 47°10′4″N9°15′19″E / 47.16778°N 9.25528°E /47.16778; 9.25528 |
| Depth | 192.1 m (630 ft) |
| Elevation | 1,640 m (5,380 ft) |
| Geology | Karst cave |
| Entrances | 1 |
| Access | Public |
Wildenmannlisloch (alsoWildmannlisloch,lit. 'littlewild man's hole') is an alpinelimestoneKarst cave in the municipality ofWildhaus-Alt St. Johann, in theToggenburg region of thecanton of St. Gallen, Switzerland, on the northern slope of theChurfirsten range (ca. 2 km [1.2 mi] due north ofSelun) peak, at an elevation of 1,640 metres (5,380 ft)a.s.l.[1]
The cave extends for 192.1 metres (630 ft), forming a chamber at about 60 metres (200 ft) from the entrance.[2]
The cave's name is recorded in 1819 a booklet on "Zwingli's birthplace" (Zwinglis Geburtsort, i.e.Wildhaus) by J. Fr. Franz:[a] "At the foot of Selun ridge there is a great cave, known as theWildenmannlisloch, which at first is very broad and high, so that it could by entered by horse and wagon, then becomes narrower, and again wider, and in such alternation continues along various bends for a quarter of an hour before its end is reached."
An examination of 15 July 1906 yielded bones ofcave bears. A more detailed survey was conducted during 1923 to 1928, published in Bächler (1933),[3] producing a large number of bones, mostly of bears, besides a smaller number ofstone tools comparable to theWildkirchli finds. The bones seem to have been artificially deposited in heaps. The cave was presumably in use (either inhabited or used as a storage site for meat, or as a sacrificial site) byprehistoric man during theMousterian (about 40,000 to 35,000 years ago).
Johannes Seluner, aferal child found in 1844, presumably lived in the cave during a number of years.
Media related toWildenmannlisloch at Wikimedia Commons
47°10′4″N9°15′19″E / 47.16778°N 9.25528°E /47.16778; 9.25528
