A Hand-axe from Lake Schmiechen, District Alb-Donau

A rare Middle Palaeolithic hand-axe, discovered near Lake Schmiechen in the Swabian Jura, sheds light on a previously underrepresented phase of prehistoric human activity in the region. The artifact, initially found around 1960 during ornithological studies but only recently identified through analysis at Museum Ulm, belongs to a later stage of the Middle Palaeolithic period—distinct from larger series typically associated with cave sites in the eastern Swabian Jura. This discovery is significant as it expands the known distribution of such tools, which are seldom found outside cave contexts in this area. The find spot's proximity to other notable Paleolithic sites, including the Kogelstein cave ruin and Hohle Fels, further underscores its archaeological importance. The study highlights the potential for additional Middle Palaeolithic findings in the region, particularly in non-cave environments.

Wehrberger, K. (2025). A Hand-axe from Lake Schmiechen, District Alb-Donau. Mitteilungen Der Gesellschaft Für Urgeschichte, 33(2024), 35–41. https://doi.org/10.51315/mgfu.2024.33003