Drachenloch, Archaeological cave in canton St. Gallen, Switzerland.
Drachenloch is a limestone cave with a spacious entrance and passages that lead deep into the mountains. The cave displays distinct layers from different periods, telling the story of ancient human and animal occupation.
The cave served as a shelter for Stone Age humans and large cave bears over many thousands of years. In the 1900s, it was used for phosphate mining, which altered significant archaeological layers.
The name comes from an old local legend about a dragon that once lived in the cave. This tale has shaped how people in the region understand and connect with this place.
Access to the cave is via a marked hiking trail from Vättis, which takes several hours to complete. Sturdy footwear and a flashlight are important since the interior is dark and damp.
Among the discoveries is one of the oldest known musical instruments - a bone flute made by early humans. This rare object shows that music and artistic expression were part of life for our most distant ancestors.
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