Geißenklösterle | |
 Geissenklösterle Cave interior | |
  Geissenklösterle Location in Germany Show map of Germany Geissenklösterle Geissenklösterle (Baden-Württemberg) Show map of Baden-Württemberg | |
| Location | Blaubeuren |
|---|---|
| Region | Ach Valley,Swabian Jura,Baden-Württemberg, Germany |
| Coordinates | 48°23′54″N9°46′20″E / 48.39833°N 9.77222°E /48.39833; 9.77222 |
| Type | karst cave |
| History | |
| Material | limestoneKarst |
| Periods | Upper Palaeolithic toMiddle Ages |
| Cultures | Aurignacian |
| Site notes | |
| Excavation dates | 1973, 1991, 2001 to 2002 |
| Archaeologists | Eberhard Wagner,Joachim Hahn,Nicholas Conard |
| 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 |
Geissenklösterle (German:Geißenklösterle) is an archaeological site of significance for the central EuropeanUpper Paleolithic, located near the town ofBlaubeuren in theSwabian Jura inBaden-Württemberg, southern Germany. First explored in 1963, the cave contains traces of early prehistoric art from between 43,000 and 30,000 years ago, including some of the oldest-known musical instruments and several animal figurines.[1] Because of the historical and cultural importance of these findings, in 2017 the site became part of theUNESCOWorld Heritage SiteCaves and Ice Age Art in the Swabian Jura.[2]
It is one of a number of caves whereearly modern humans in theAurignacian, between 43,000 and 30,000 years ago left traces of earlyartwork, including theVogelherd,Brillenhöhle, Grosse Grotte,Hohle Fels andHohlenstein-Stadel caves. The cave contains sediments, that were divided into six levels belonging to theAurignacian and seven levels of theGravettian. Levels below are accredited to theMiddle Paleolithic and those on top reach from theWestern EuropeanMagdalenian (between 17,000 and 12,000 years ago) to theMiddle Ages.
The Aurignacian levels date to between 43,000 and 32,000 years ago, and have yielded stone tools, artefacts made from antlers, bones and ivory. Among the most notable items are twoflutes carved from bird bone and mammoth ivory, theoldest known musical instruments with an age of 42,000 to 43,000 years.[3][4] The flutes were able to play distinct melodies, and music was likely an integral part of the societies living in the region at the time.[1]
In addition to the flutes, many carved figurines were uncovered in Geissenklösterle. Many of these figurines depict typical Ice Age animals, includingmammoths,bison, andcave lions.[1] They are generally very small, measuring between 2.5 and 10 cm (1 and 4 in). An ivory relief of a human was also uncovered. Called theAdorant of Geißenklösterle, it depicts a figure with raised arms and rows of small notches on the reverse. Although the significance of these figurines is still unknown, they may have been effigies of a primitive religion.[1]
Geissenklösterle was first archaeologically explored in 1963. Systematic excavations began in 1973, from 1974 to 2002 sponsored by the State ofBaden-Württemberg. A 1983monographic publication summarizes the excavation results up to that time. However, only a small amount of the cave has been excavated.[1]
In January 2016, the federal government of Germany applied for the status ofWorld Heritage Site for two valleys with six caves namedHöhlen der ältesten Eiszeitkunst ("Caves with the oldest Ice Age art"). The site would encompass areas in the Lonetal (valley of theLone) and the Achtal (valley of the Ach) both in the southern Swabian Jura. The former includes the cavesHohlenstein-Stadel,Vogelherd andBocksteinhöhle, the latterGeissenklösterle,Hohle Fels andSirgenstein Cave. Each valley would contain a core area of around 3 to 4 km (1.9 to 2.5 mi) length, surrounded by a buffer zone of a least 100 m (330 ft) width.[5]
In the argument why these sites deserve recognition as a part of the universal human heritage, the area is described as the source of the currently oldest known (non-stationary) works of human art in the form of carved animal and humanoid figurines as well as the oldest surviving musical instruments. Their creators lived, were inspired and worked in and around these caves. The caves also served as the repositories of the figurines which may have been used in a religious context. In addition, they were the venue where performers used the excavated musical instruments and where the social groups lived from which the artists sprang.[6][5]
The committee awarded the status of WHS in July 2017.[7][8]
