Hidden amidst the beautiful Harz Mountains in Germany lies a realm shrouded in mystery and wonder—the Unicorn Cave (Einhornhöhle). This is the largest cave in Germany and has captivated the imagination of explorers, scientists, and folklore enthusiasts for centuries.
A rare discovery
The cave is about five to ten million years old and was discovered in the Middle Ages when it was filled with bones of prehistoric animals, like mammoths, who took refuge in the cave. These prehistoric animals were unknown at the time, however, so people in the Middle Ages attributed the bones to mythical creatures like dragons and unicorns. They would then crush and mix these bones with gold and silver as a cure-all for many ailments.
But in 2021, scientists discovered that bones weren’t the only artifacts in the cave. A recent study revealed that some of the bones had intentional, symbolic designs etched into them. The artwork is thought to be a rare piece of art created by Neanderthals, suggesting that they had far greater cognitive abilities than originally thought.
“Neanderthals were very smart,” study lead researcher Dirk Leder, an archaeologist at the State Service for Cultural Heritage Lower Saxony in Hanover, Germany, told Live Science. “They were able to communicate and express themselves by symbols. They were probably cognitively very similar to us as a human species.”
Visiting with kids
The unicorn cave is a fun place to take kids. (Plus it is stroller friendly!). You can only visit by taking a 50-minute guided tour of the cave and tickets range from two euro to ten depending on age. You can purchase tickets here. There’s also some amazing trails nearby, so if hiking is your thing plan some extra time to explore the surrounding area!
If you want to supplement your visit with educational material for the kids, check out the popular graphic series Lucy and Andy Neanderthal: Bad to the Bones (affiliate link) to discover more unique facts about the prehistoric era.