Gudenus cave
{{short description|Cave and archaeological site in Austria}}
{{Infobox ancient site
|name = Gudenus cave
|native_name = Gudenushöhle
|alternate_name =
|image = Weinzierl am Walde - Gudenushöhle, Innenbereich.JPG
| image_size =240
|alt = Gloomy cave interior
|caption = Gudenus cave interior
|map_type = Austria
| map_size = 240 px
|map_alt =
| map_caption = Location in Austria
|relief = yes
|location = near Lichtenau im Waldviertel
|region = Lower Austria
|coordinates = {{coord|48.44682|15.3956|display=inline,title}}
|type =
|epochs = Paleolithic
}}
The Gudenus cave ({{langx|de|Gudenushöhle}}) is an archaeological site near the city of Krems in north-eastern Austria. It is noted for its fossils and remains of Palaeolithic human settlers.
Description
The Gudenus cavern is situated {{convert|20|km|mi|abbr=on}} northwest of the city of Krems, in the valley of the Little Krems, not far from Willendorf, in Lower Austria.{{Cite book|last=Obermaler|first=Hugues|chapter=Quaternary Human remains in Central Europe|title=Annual Report of the Board of Regents of the Smithsonian Institution for the year ending June 30 1906|year=1907|publisher=Smithsonian Institution}} The site is close to the River Danube.{{Cite book|last1=Ciochon|first1=Russell L. |authorlink1=Russell Ciochon |last2=Fleagle|first2=John G.|title=The Human Evolution Source Book|page=507|year=1993|publisher=Prentice Hall}} The cave is {{convert|22|m|ft|abbr=on}} long with a width of {{convert|2|to|3|m|ft|abbr=on}} and is situated {{convert|7.5|m|ft|abbr=on}} above the level of the stream.
Weinzierl am Walde - Gudenushöhle, linker Eingangsbereich.JPG|left entrance area
Gudenushöhle Noe 01.JPG|right entrance area
Paleontology
The archaeological deposit has yielded bones of numerous animals, including Woolly mammoth, Woolly rhinoceros, Aurochs, Chamois, Reindeer, and Red deer. Human artifacts include numerous flint implements beginning with the Mousterian (i.e. Neanderthals) of the Middle Paleolithic, although there is no certainty as to the dating. There is also an Upper Palaeolithic, Magdalenian, assemblage including an engraved reindeer bone,{{Cite book|last=Oliva|first=Martin|title=Palaeolithic and Mesolithic Moravia|page=103|year=2005|publisher=Moravian Museum}} and a fragment of a bone flute dated to about 16,000–10,000 BCE.{{Cite book|last=Pilch|first=John J.|title=Flights of the Soul|page=95|year=2011|publisher=Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing|isbn=978-0802865403}}
References
{{reflist|20em}}
External links
{{Commons category inline|Gudenushöhle}}
{{Navbox prehistoric caves}}