Location Alpstein massif Associated with Neanderthal Archaeologist Emil Bächler | Region Appenzell Innerrhoden Archaeologists Emil Bächler | |
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Similar Ebenalp, Seealpsee, Alps, Alpstein, Schäfler | ||
Wildkirchli, German: Wildkirchli (English: Nature Chapel) are three caves situated in the Alpstein massif in the Appenzell canton, north-east of Mount Säntis Switzerland. They are notable for the traces of Paleolithic Neanderthal habitation, recorded in 1940 by Emil Bächler (1868–1950), dating to between 50,000 and 30,000 BP. Even older are fossils of cave bears found at the site that date to around. 90,000 BP. The Hermit hut houses a large bear skeleton, that was found in one of the caves.
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Map of Wildkirchli, 9057 Schwende District, Switzerland
The caves were inhabited by hermits from 1658 to 1853. The last hermit resident fell to his death at the mountain during the mid 19th century and the hermitage remained vacant until it was turned into a museum in 1972.
In 1863, the site has been the subject of interest of the oldest known cave society, the Höhlenklub von Appenzell. Today, the caves are an open to the public. They can be easily accessed on foot via a short trail down from the cable car station at Ebenalp.