Divje Babe

The Divje Babe site on the Šebrelje Plateau is one of the key Palaeolithic localities in the wider Alpine region. It is a karst cave with an exceptionally well-preserved sedimentary sequence that allows reconstruction of human presence and environmental dynamics over tens of thousands of years. The site is internationally known above all for the discovery of a Neanderthal bone flute, more than 50,000 years old, which has sparked extensive debate on the cognitive and cultural capacities of Neanderthals.

The cave lies on the southern edge of the Šebrelje Plateau, on a steep slope above the deeply incised valley of the Idrijca River. This landscape reflects long-term erosional processes that shaped the stepped relief of the Idrija–Cerkno region. At about 230 metres above the riverbed, the entrances to the Divje Babe I and II cave system open onto the slope. The karstic bedrock, composed of limestone and dolomite, has been intensively dissolved and weathered, forming cavities and rock shelters, among which Divje Babe stands out for its exceptional stratigraphic preservation.

Inside Divje Babe I, archaeologists excavated approximately twelve metres of Pleistocene deposits. The layers are clearly stratified and represent one of the richest Middle and Upper Palaeolithic sequences in Europe. They contain remains of more than sixty animal species, dominated by cave bear, as well as stone and bone tools and traces of hearths. This combination of archaeological, palaeontological and palaeoecological evidence enables a detailed reconstruction of Ice Age environments and human adaptation.

Systematic excavations began in 1978 under Mitja Brodar and continued in the 1990s under Ivan Turk and colleagues from the Institute of Archaeology at ZRC SAZU. In 1995, during these investigations, the famous bone flute was discovered in the eighth stratigraphic layer. It was made from the femur of a young cave bear and dates to between 50,000 and 60,000 years ago, placing it in the Middle Palaeolithic period when Neanderthals inhabited the region. The object was found in association with hearth remains, confirming its archaeological context.

Today, the area is organised as the Divje Babe Archaeological Park, covering the northern part of the Šebrelje Plateau and the cave system above the Idrijca valley. In 2025, the site was declared a cultural monument of national importance, ensuring long-term protection and professional management. The park integrates natural, archaeological and palaeontological heritage and represents a key reference point for understanding Palaeolithic settlement in Slovenia and Europe.