Stone Age tools found under tree uprooted by storm in northern Switzerland

A recent storm brought to light flint scrapers and arrowheads dating from the Palaeolithic era in a Schaffhausen forest.

The flints examined by the Schaffhausen Archaeological Service were discovered in a forest
[Credit: Township of Schaffhausen]

The Stone Age tools were found by a jogger among the roots of a tree felled by strong winds a month ago and immediately reported his discovery to the Cantonal Archaeological Service.

Archaeologists have since been able to extract many other finely worked stone objects from the site.

"12,000 years ago, small groups of hunter-gatherers occupied this area which today is heavily forested but was then only a sparse landscape of birch and pine trees," explained the Cantonal Archaeological Service, adding that "the stone used for the flint came from the Schaffhausen high plateau of the Randen."

"At the scene of the find, hunter-gatherers fashioned spearheads for reindeer hunting and tools to work furs. This is evidenced by a large amount of waste and a few finished products."

Source: Swissinfo [February 06, 2018]