Archaeological Discovery in Lower Austria: Stone Age Mammoth Hunting Ground Unearthed

Archaeologists from the Austrian Academy of Sciences (ÖAW) have made a significant discovery in Langmannersdorf, Lower Austria, uncovering a prehistoric hunting ground used for mammoths. Excavations in this area, located northeast of St. Pölten, revealed the remains of at least five mammoths dating back 25,000 years, along with stone tools. Researchers believe that dozens of these animals were processed here, with their meat utilized and ivory crafted by ancient hunters.

The site has a long history of exploration, with initial digs conducted by the Natural History Museum between 1904 and 1907, prompted by local residents selling unusually large bones to a soap factory. More systematic investigations occurred in 1919-20, which uncovered two camps of mammoth hunters.

In February of this year, a team led by Marc Händel from the Austrian Archaeological Institute (ÖAI) undertook further excavations slightly away from previous sites as part of the European research project MAMBA, which focuses on mammoth bone accumulations in Central Europe. They identified two zones, approximately 15 meters apart, containing multiple layers of bones, along with stone tools and waste from tool production.

While neither zone contained complete skeletons, one area revealed remains of at least three animals, including intact and fragmented tusks, but few vertebrae and long bones. This suggests that ivory was likely processed there, possibly to create spear points. The second zone lacked ivory but included vertebrae and long bones from at least two additional mammoths. Notably, both locations lacked rib bones, indicating that the ancient hunters sorted the remains.

Additionally, signs of Upper Paleolithic habitation have been found, such as fire pits and pits, which suggest that while butchering mammoths, the hunters remained in the area and left behind traces of their presence. Händel noted that 25,000 years ago, during the late Ice Age, mammoth herds roamed Central Europe, utilizing the Perschling Valley in Langmannersdorf as a transit and grazing area. The landscape at that time was likely different and more structured, providing an ideal location for hunters to intercept the mammals.

It is believed that hunting occurred over an extended period, as indicated by the multitude of animals processed. Although it is unclear how many bones ended up in the soap factory, previous findings are preserved at the Natural History Museum. Furthermore, not all remains have been excavated, suggesting there may be several dozen mammoths represented in total.

Langmannersdorf stands out as the most recent significant site for mammoth bones in Central Europe, with the ongoing MAMBA project studying similar sites in Poland, the Czech Republic, and Austria to gain insights into the hunting and utilization of woolly mammoths by humans, as well as the population dynamics of this extinct elephant species.

The research involves analyzing stone tools and butcher marks, alongside studying the genetic material and isotopes from the teeth and bones of these animals. Researchers are also attempting to understand the climatic and ecological shifts that occurred between 35,000 and 25,000 years ago.

The findings will be processed at an ÖAI facility in Krems before being transferred to the Natural History Museum in Vienna, with some artifacts also destined for the local heritage museum in Perschling.