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Karsthöhle Dienstedt

Oberfeldhöhlen Dienstedt

Useful Information

History

Description

The Karsthöhle Dienstedt (karst cave Dienstedt) is located about 1km northeast of Dienstedt, at the southern slopes of the Schenkhopfenberg, an area which is called Oberfeld. There are three caves, which are also called Oberfeldhöhlen (Oberfeld caves). A petrified part of a jawbone of a dinosaur was found in the cave. It originates from the limestone, the cave is in. It is called Muschelkalk in German, which are Middle Triassic limestones. The caves are former river caves, located 23m above the niveau of todays Ilm river. The cave rivers were tributaries to the Ilm, two to five million years ago. The inside show impressive erosional forms. Very nice solutional profles were unfortunately partly destroyed by improper development works like artificial tunnels and brick walls.

The cave was used about 4000 years ago by people from a celtic culture locally known as Bandkeramiker. This translates Linear Band Pottery, a name given to the people after a common pottery style. They left the remains of fireplaces, animal bones, bone tools, and pottery shards. Of special interest are nice findings of awls, needles a well preserved cup made of burnt clay.

The exploration of the cave was originally initiated by Felix Gebser (1907-1988) from Dienstedt. He was Bodendenkmalpfleger, a honorary position similar to a park ranger in the USA. In the early 1950s he searched around Dienstedt for archaeological remains. After several fruitless excavations, he discovered in 1953 the cave, in which he soon found prehistoric remains. During 25 years the cave was excavated by the Museum für Ur- und Frühgeschichte Weimar, always supported by Mr Gerbser and many other honorary workers. After the archaeological excavations were completed, the cave was developed as a show cave.

See also

• Search Google for "Karsthöhle Dienstedt"
• Karsthöhle von Dienstedt ()
• Streifzug durch Höhlen in Thüringen a page about various caves in Thüringen, the Karsthöhle Dienstedt is described at the bottom of the page. The cave was closed at the time of the visit by Franz Lindenmayer, so it is described only from outside. Nevertheless an interesting page by Franz. ()
• Oberfeldhöhlen Dienstedt eine recht gute Beschreibung der Thüringer Höhlenvereins. ()
• Karsthöhle Dienstedt - Glasblaeserstube - Manfred Wagner Thueringer Wald,Stuetzerbach ()

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