Divje babe, Paleolithic cave in Cerkno, Slovenia

Divje Babe is a karst cave and archaeological park above the Idrijca River in northwestern Slovenia, at 230 m above the valley. The cave system consists of two caves, Divje Babe I and Divje Babe II. Divje Babe I is a 5 m long and 3 m deep rock shelter; Divje Babe II is freely accessible.

Early humans occupied the cave around 50,000 years ago, making tools and hunting animals within and near its walls. Scientific excavations from 1978 to 1995 uncovered the evidence of this long occupation beneath layers of earth.

The name Divje Babe means 'wild women' or 'Witch Cave', from the belief that witches lived in caves. The cave system consists of two parts: Divje Babe I, entered only with a guide, and Divje Babe II, freely accessible a few minutes' walk away. The flute is held by the National Museum of Slovenia.

Divje Babe I can be visited only on a guided tour, held from April to the end of October to protect the site; Divje Babe II, a few minutes' walk away, is freely accessible. The cave lies at 230 m above the Idrijca valley, so expect a climb on uneven ground.

The perforated bear-bone fragment from layer 8 is kept by the National Museum of Slovenia, not at the cave. Debate over its four holes continues: some read them as deliberately bored, others as hyena tooth marks. The Slovenian Wikipedia dates it to around 60,000 years ago, which would make it possibly the world's oldest known instrument.