Szeleta Cave, Archaeological cave site in Lillafüred, Hungary.
Szeleta Cave is a limestone cavern near Lillafüred with multiple passages and chambers. The main gallery opens into a spacious chamber where researchers uncovered layers of ancient sediment over many decades.
The cave was systematically explored starting in 1906 by Otto Herman and Ottokar Kadić, launching modern cave archaeology in Hungary. The artifacts found date back around 44,000 years and reveal transition patterns between earlier and later human forms.
The site gave its name to the Szeletian culture, representing a transitional period between Middle and Upper Paleolithic periods from 44,000 to 40,000 years ago.
A marked walking trail leads from Lillafüred train station up to the cave, taking about 30 minutes to complete. The path is accessible year-round and winds through the hilly terrain of this region.
A black line on the cave wall marks the original sediment level from the early 20th century. This marking helps visitors understand the depth of archaeological digging that took place here.
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