Hexenfels

The Hexenfels (Witch’s Rock), a massive overhanging boulder at the Krahnsattel saddle in the Rofan mountains, has served as a natural shelter since the Stone Age. Originally, experts thought high mountain regions were rarely inhabited in prehistoric times, but the discovery of the glacier mummy “Ötzi” in 1991 increased interest in alpine archaeology.

During site inspections in the Rofan mountains, archaeologist Thomas Bachnetzer and Markus Staudt discovered the Hexenfels at around 2,000 metres above sea level. Bachnetzer’s team from the Institute of Archaeology studied this unique site for his dissertation, uncovering evidence of human presence dating back to the Mesolithic period. Thousands of flint artifacts - arrowheads, drills, scrapers, and tool-making debris - were found, along with ceramic and metal objects, fireplaces, and bone jewellery.

Finds from the late Bronze Age and Iron Age were also uncovered, and charcoal remains show people camped here in early Roman times. Later artifacts, including a coin from the era of Leopold I and a coat clasp, indicate continued use. Contemporary accounts mention the Hexenfels as a milking place for shepherds, and before excavations, hikers and youth groups often stayed overnight. Archaeological evidence suggests continuous use for 7,500 to 8,000 years.