Discoveries in the Geissenklöstelle Cave

Location and Significance

• The cave is located in southwestern Germany.
• No paintings, but numerous artistic objects have been recovered.
• Important site for findings from the Ice Age.

Notable Discoveries

• Flutes:
  • Only one of eight recovered flutes was found in this area.
  • Made from the radius bone of a vulture.
  • Remarkably, the flute is pentatonic, a scale still in use today.
• Ivory Statues:
  • Little statues of a bear and a very tiny mammoth were discovered.
  • These artifacts provide insight into the art and culture of Ice Age inhabitants.

Historical Context

• The artifacts date back 30,000-40,000 years.
• During this period, the region was extremely cold due to a 2,500-meter thick glacier covering the Alps.
• Reindeer and mammoths were common in the valley below the cave.

Ice Age Lifestyle

• Inhabitants likely wore reindeer fur and leather to endure the harsh cold.
• Clothing style similar to Inuit attire, suggesting adaptation to the cold climate.

Personal Involvement

• The speaker was part of the excavation team in 1992.
• Shared experience of reconstructing the flute and playing it, noting it sounded akin to the "Star Spangled Banner."