Bilzingsleben (Paleolithic Site) - History of The Excavation

History of The Excavation

Fossil bones had already been found in the 16th century. In 1710 David Siegmund Büttner published a book called "Rudera diluvii testes i.e. Zeichen und Zeugen der Sündfluth" (Signs and witnesses of the flood). In 1818 Freiherr Friedrich von Schlotheim (1765-1832) found a human skull covered by lime concretions. It is lost today. In 1908 the mineralogist Ewald Wüst (1875-1934) from the University of Halle-Wittenberg published concerning the first flint artifacts. Adolf Spengler began working in Bilzingsleben in 1922.

In 1969 Dietrich Mania, later professor at the University of Jena, discovered numerous fossils and artefacts. In 1971 a research excavation was initiated that went on until 1992 under the auspices of the Museum for prehistory at Halle. Later on, the University of Jena took over. 1600 m2 have been excavated.