Middle Paleolithic Open-Air Sites of the Swabian Jura

Abstract

For several decades, Paleolithic research in the Swabian Jura has mainly focused on the numerous cave sites situated in the Ach and Lone valleys. These sites, such as Vogelherd, Hohle Fels, Geißenklösterle or Hohlenstein-Stadel, are famous for producing evidence for the world’s oldest figurative art and musical instruments, dating to the Aurignacian, and have also yielded important Middle and Upper Paleolithic assemblages. In recent years, the work group directed by H. Floss has begun to intensify research efforts regarding Paleolithic open-air sites in the Swabian Jura and adjacent areas. With the discovery of the Aurignacian open-air site of Königsbach-Stein near Pforzheim as a starting point, ongoing systematic surveys led to the discovery of the site of Börslingen-Eisenberg in 2009. The site is situated directly on an outcrop of Jurassic chert and has yielded c. 300 Middle Paleolithic artifacts, including Keilmesser, other bifacial elements and a strong Levallois component, as well as some Upper Paleolithic pieces. The local raw material was used in nearby cave sites, e.g., Bockstein (Middle Paleolithic context) and Vogelherd (Upper Paleolithic context).