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| In Deutsch |
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| In Deutsch |
Steinkirche
Useful Information
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| Image: the courtyard of the cave. |
| Location: |
In Scharzfeld, 15km SE Osterode.
A7 Ausf Seesen(Harz),
B243 34km bis Ausf Scharzfeld.
Am Ortseingang links ab, unter der B243 hindurch, rechts oben
am Hang.
(37,Lc39)
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| Open: |
n.a.
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| Fee: |
n.a.
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| Classification: |
Kalkhöhle, Halbhöhle, Abri, Höhlenruine
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| Light: |
nicht notwendig
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| Dimension: |
L=30m, H=8m, Vorplatz 25 m Seitenlänge.
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| Guided tours: |
n.a.
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| Bibliography: |
Geologische Ergebnisse einer Grabung in der Einhornhöhle bei Scharzfeld
am Harz,
in: Der Südharz - seine Geologie, seine Höhlen und Karsterscheinungen,
Jh. Karst- u. Höhlenkde, Heft 9,
München 1969
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| Address: |
Gesellschaft Unicornu fossile e.V., Geschäftsstelle Einhornhöhle, Dr. Ralf-D. Nielbock, Im Strange 12, 37520 Osterode am Harz, Tel: +49-5522-31593-85, Fax: +49-5522-31593-86, Handy +49-160-96753324.
E-mail: 
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| Stand: | $Date: 2010/05/19 23:21:30 $ |
Description
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| Image: inside the Steinkirche. |
The Steinkirche is a huge, nearly rectangular chamber with a triangular
courtyard.
The cave is located high above the town Scharzfeld at the slopes of the Harz.
During the Ice Ages this cave was cut through by a valley and so became
open for human influences.
At the end of the Old Stone Age (15.000-8.000 BC) the cave was frequented by
deer hunters.
This was proved by several flint tools which were excavated in the cave.
After the area was christianized, the place was probably used as a church.
Worships were held in the cave until the 14th century.
But ther is no written evidence of this.
The only arguments for this theory are the name of the cave (Steinkirche
means stone church) and local legends.
Also excavations on the courtyard revealed the remains of a medieval
graveyard.
In the era of the crusades, the cave was turned into a replica of the
grave.
The alterations are clearly visible in the cave and on the cliff faces around
the courtyard.
The form of the recesses aroud the cave entrance insinuate a wooden gate.
Some remains of walls, tiles, and gothic tracery make additional buildings
most likely.
However, the legend that the 500 years old church bell of Scharzfeld once
hang here, is most likely untrue.
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| Steinkirche Gallery |
See also
