- Wildkirchli
Wildkirchli is the name of a system of three caves in the
Alpstein massif ofAppenzell ,Switzerland .They are notable for the traces of paleolithic (Neanderthals ) habitation discovered in 1940 by Emil Bächler (1868–1950), dating to ca. 50,000 to 30,000 BP. Even earlier are remnants ofcave bear s found in the caves, dating to ca. 90,000 BP.The caves were inhabited by hermits from 1658 to 1853.
Today, the caves are a tourist site. They can be easily accessed on foot via a short trail down from the cable car station at
Ebenalp .Literature
*E. Bächler, Das alpine Paläolithikum der Schweiz im W., Drachenloch und Wildenmannlisloch, 1940.
*E. Schmid, «Zum Besuch der Wildkirchli-Höhlen», in Mitteilungsblatt der Schweizerischen Geschichte für Ur- und Frühgeschichte 8, 1977, 2-12.External links
* [http://www.aescher-ai.ch Berggasthaus Aescher]
* [http://www.letsgo-europe.com/Switzerland/Appenzell/hiking.html#wildkirchli Wildkirchli Pictures]
* [http://www.ebenalp.ch/sommer/sehenswuerdigkeiten/ Wildkirchli] de icon
*HLS|12768
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