Archaeologists have discovered artifacts in a Tyrolean cave that are believed to be 100,000 years old and likely date back to the time of the Neanderthals. The new finds—several flint tools—were uncovered in the Tischofer Cave in the Kaisertal valley near Kufstein, a site that has long been known for excavations. According to ORF Tirol on Friday, these items are significantly older than any previously found there. The discovery suggests that Tyrol may have been settled much earlier than previously thought.
The cave has been researched for at least 150 years. Until now, the oldest artifacts found there were around 35,000 years old. The newly uncovered items could be evidence that Neanderthals occupied the cave some 100,000 years ago. “This is completely new to us,” excavation leader Joachim Pechtl from the University of Innsbruck was quoted as saying. “Until now, we believed the oldest items in Tyrol were left by anatomically modern humans.”
Evidence of Fire Discovered
Twelve artifacts were found in what appears to be an untouched corner of the cave, about 2.5 meters deep. The items include tools such as knives and multi-purpose instruments for cutting, chopping, or drilling. Researchers also found signs suggesting Neanderthals may have made fire in the cave: small charcoal fragments were regularly found near the tool site.
However, the findings have not yet been definitively dated. Pechtl noted that confirming the exact age will require a multi-year research project. Final results are expected to be published in two to three years.
