Location: |
Szilvásvárad, Komitat Heves.
(48.071594, 20.417328) |
Open: |
No restrictions. [2022] |
Fee: |
free. [2022] |
Classification: | Karst Cave |
Light: | bring torch |
Dimension: | L=57 m, A=535 m asl. Cadastral Number 5341-1. |
Guided tours: | |
Photography: | allowed |
Accessibility: | no |
Bibliography: | |
Address: | |
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Istállós-kői-barlang (Barnstone Cave) was named after the Istállós-kő (958 m asl) which is the second-highest mountain of the Bükk and the sixth highest of Hungary. It is one of the most important archaeological sites of Hungary. The upper, subarctic layer reaches an age of around 31,000 BP, which has been corroborated by radiocarbon dating. It contains spearheads of a different type, which have a solid base. Such bone points are called Mladeč Spearheads after the type locale Mladečské jeskyně which is located in the small village Mladeč. In older archaeological literature (before World War II) you will read Lautscher Spearheads, during the Austro-Hungarian-Empire the town was known as Lautsch. There was a 3x4 m stone-lined hearth, which contained charcoal, numerous animal bones, 80% of which were those of young cave bears. According to the penis bones found, there were about 2,000 animals. Probably the most exceptional discovery was a 12 cm long bone flute which is approximately 45,000-years-old. The lower layer of the cave contained about 50 spearheads made of bone with a split base, which belong to the Aurignacian. 40,000 years and older is the time of the Neanderthal (Homo neanderthalensis) and this cave is actually an important Neanderthal site.