Ofnet Caves
Nature reserve in Bavaria, Germany
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The Ofnet Caves (German: Ofnethöhlen) are the remains of an underground karst system on the edge of the Nördlinger Ries in Germany. They are located on a limestone hill near Nördlingen, Bavaria. The caves became famous in 1908 when 33 prehistoric human skulls were discovered. The skulls were dated to the Mesolithic period.
Ofnethöhlen | |
Large Ofnet Cave | |
  Ofnet Caves location in Germany  Ofnet Caves Ofnet Caves (Germany) | |
| Location | Nördlingen |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 48°49′7″N 10°27′1″E |
| Type | Cave |
| History | |
| Periods | Mesolithic |
Description
There are two caves (or rock shelters) called the Grosse and Kleine Ofnet (Large and Small Ofnet).[1]
Skull remains
In the Grosse Ofnet in 1908 archaeologist R. R. Schmidt found two dish-shaped pits in which human skulls were lying "like eggs in flat baskets".[1] In the larger pit were 27 skulls and in the other there were 6 skulls.[2] The skulls were arranged concentrically with their faces turned towards the setting sun.[2] They were all covered with a thick layer of red ochre.[2] The skulls have been dated to the 7th millennium BC.[3]
