Potok Cave

Entrance to Potok Cave

Potok Cave[1][2] (Slovene: Potočka zijalka or Potočka zijavka[3]) is a cave in northern Slovenia, best known as an important high-elevation archaeological and paleontological site, visited approximately 35,000[4] BP (before present) by biologically modern Cro-Magnon people during the Aurignacian (first period of the Upper Paleolithic). The cave is named after the Potok Farm in Podolševa,[5][6] and the Slovene term zijalka or zijavka refers to a flat-bottomed cave with a gaping mouth on a cliff face.[6][7] Systematic excavations were carried out by the Slovenian archaeologist Srečko Brodar.[8]

Location

It is located in the eastern Karawanks in northern Slovenia, on the southern slope of Mount Olševa above Solčava, at an elevation of 1,675 m (5,495 ft) in the Triassic limestone.[8] It is 115 m (377 ft)[9] long and varies from 17 m (56 ft) wide at the mouth to 40 m (130 ft) wide in the interior.[9] Its entry opens toward the south.[8]

Role

There are two explanations of its role. According to the original explanation, the cave was a hunting station. According to the newer one, it was a ritual place.[8]

Excavations

Srečko Brodar
Inside Potok Cave

After amateur excavations by Josef Gross, a medical student from Austria, the area was bought by Museum Society of Celje on behalf of which the systematic excavations were carried out by archaeologist Srečko Brodar, starting in 1928[10] and continuing until 1935.[9]

The finds from eight layers excavated from the cave included the bones of over 40 animal species, including the cave bears, wolves, alpine marmots, hares, red foxes, weasels, lynx, red deer, chamois, and in particular, teeth of a muskox, as well as 123 arrowheads, a controversial bone flute, and one of the world's oldest sewing needles.[8][11]

Exhibits

In a village near the location itself, a permanent exhibit is open for tourists at the Firšt Inn and Museum in the Logar Valley.[12] The other finds can be seen at the Celje Regional Museum, where however much of the collection was destroyed during World War II in 1945 bombing raids.[9]

Coordinates: 46°26′56″N 14°40′07″E / 46.44889°N 14.66861°E / 46.44889; 14.66861

See also

References

  1. ↑ Snodgrass, Mary Ellen. 2014. World Clothing and Fashion: An Encyclopedia of History, Culture, and Social Influence. New York: Routledge, p. 207.
  2. ↑ [http://archaeology-travel.com/photo-album/views-from-ancient-doorways/ Dowson, Thomas. 2013. "Views from Ancient Doorways." Archaeology Travel.
  3. ↑ Bezlaj, France. 1961. Slovenska vodna imena, vol. 2. Ljubljana: SAZU, p. 337.
  4. ↑ "Potočka zijavka". Parc.si. Palaeolithic Research Centre.
  5. ↑ Mišič, Franc. 1938. "O ledinskih in hišnih imenih okoli Solčave." Časopis za zgodovino in narodopisje 33(3/4): 191–201, p. 195.
  6. 1 2 SlovLit: Potočka zijalka (Slovene)
  7. ↑ Bezlaj, France et al. 2005. Etimološki slovar slovenskega jezika vol. 4. Ljubljana: SAZU, p. 411.
  8. 1 2 3 4 5 Debeljak, Irena; Turk, Matija. "Potočka zijalka". In Šmid Hribar, Mateja. Torkar, Gregor. Golež, Mateja. Podjed, Dan. Kladnik, Drago. Erhartič, Bojan. Pavlin, Primož. Jerele, Ines. Enciklopedija naravne in kulturne dediščine na Slovenskem – DEDI (in Slovenian). Retrieved 12 March 2012.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Broda, Mitja. 1995. "Potočka zijalka." Enciklopedija Slovenije vol. 9. Ljubljana: Mladinska knjiga, pp. 193–194.
  10. ↑ Brodar, Srečko, & Mitja Brodar. 1983. Potočka zijalka, visokoalpska postaja aurignacienskih lovcev. Ljubljana: SAZU, p. 12.
  11. ↑ Odar, Boštjan (2008). "A Dufour Bladelet from Potočka zijalka (Slovenia)" (PDF). Arheološki vestnik. 59: 13.
  12. ↑ Stalna razstava Potočka zijalka (Potok Cave Permanent Exhibit) (Slovene)


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