Middle Paleolithic Open-Air Sites of the Swabian Jura

Recent research has uncovered significant Middle Paleolithic open-air sites in the Swabian Jura, shifting focus from the region's renowned cave sites. The discovery of Börslingen-Eisenberg, located on a Jurassic chert outcrop, yielded approximately 300 artifacts, including Keilmesser and Levallois components, alongside some Upper Paleolithic pieces. This site provides evidence of local raw material use, also documented in nearby caves like Bockstein (Middle Paleolithic) and Vogelherd (Upper Paleolithic). Systematic surveys, initiated with the Aurignacian open-air site of Königsbach-Stein near Pforzheim, have expanded our understanding of Paleolithic settlement patterns beyond cave contexts. The study highlights the importance of open-air sites in reconstructing Middle Paleolithic cultural landscapes in this region.

Fröhle, S., Schürch, B., Wettengl, S., & Floss, H. (2024). Middle Paleolithic Open-Air Sites of the Swabian Jura. The Rhine during the Middle Paleolithic: Boundary or Corridor?, 21–41. https://doi.org/10.51315/9783935751353.002