Potočka zijalka | |
.JPG) Entrance to Potok Cave | |
  Potok Cave location in Slovenia | |
| Location | aboveSolčava |
|---|---|
| Region | easternKarawanks Slovenia |
| Coordinates | 46°26′56″N14°40′07″E / 46.44889°N 14.66861°E /46.44889; 14.66861 |
| Type | limestonekarst |
| Length | 115 m (377 ft) |
| Width | 40 m (130 ft) |
| History | |
| Material | Triassic limestone |
| Periods | Upper Paleolithic |
| Associated with | Paleo-humans |
Potok Cave[1][2] (Slovene:Potočka zijalka orPotočka zijavka[3]) is a cave in northernSlovenia, declared a high-elevationarchaeological andpaleontological site, occupied approximately 35,000 years[4]BP (before present) byanatomically modern humans of theAurignacian culture during theUpper Paleolithic. The cave is named after the Potok Farm inPodolševa.[5][6] The Slovene termzijalka orzijavka refers to a flat-bottomed cave with a gaping mouth on a cliff face.[6][7] Systematic excavations were carried out from 1928 through 1935 by Slovenian archaeologistSrečko Brodar.[8]
The cave is located in the easternKarawanks in northern Slovenia, on the southern slope ofMount Olševa aboveSolčava, at an elevation of 1,675 m (5,495 ft) in theTriassiclimestone.[8] It is 115 m (377 ft)[9] long and varies from 17 m (56 ft) wide at the mouth to 40 m (130 ft) wide in the interior.[9] Its entry opens toward the south.[8]
There are two explanations of its role. According to the original explanation, the cave was a hunting station. According to the newer one, it was a ritual place.[8]
After amateur excavations by Josef Gross, a medical student fromAustria, the area was bought by the Museum Society ofCelje. Systematic excavations were carried out on its behalf by archaeologistSrečko Brodar, starting in 1928[10] and continuing until 1935.[9]
The finds from eight layers excavated from the cave included the bones of more than 40 animal species, includingcave bears,wolves,alpine marmots,hares,red foxes,weasels,lynx,red deer, andchamois, andmuskox teeth, as well as 123arrowheads, one of the world's oldestsewing needles, and a bone flute made from a bear mandible.[8][11][12][13]
In a village near the cave, a permanent exhibit is open for tourists at theFiršt Inn and Museum in theLogar Valley.[14] The other finds can be seen at theCelje Regional Museum. Unfortunately much of the collection was destroyed duringWorld War II in 1945 Allied bombing raids.[9][15]
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Media related toPotok Cave at Wikimedia Commons| Settlements | Administrative seat:Solčava
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