Witch's Rock

The Witch's Rock, a huge overhanging rock, is situated directly at the Krahnsattel mountain saddle in the Rofan mountains. The rock has been used as a resting place and natural shelter since the Stone Age. Experts were of the opinion that high mountain areas were only sparsely populated in Prehistory. However, when glacier mummy "Ötzi" was discovered in 1991, high mountain research has become increasingly important. 

The archaeologist Thomas Bachnetzer and his colleague Markus Staudt came across a very interesting place during site inspections in the Rofan mountains. In a small rockfall area, at an altitude of approx. 2,000 meters above sea level, they prospected a huge rock block, the Hexenfels (Witch's rock). Bachnetzer and his colleagues from the Institute of Archaeology investigated the special shelter in Bachnetzer's dissertation. The oldest evidence of the presence of humans dates back to the Mesolithic period. Among the finds are thousands of flint artefacts, such as arrowheads, drills, scrapers and waste from the production of tools, ceramic and metal findings, beautifully arranged fireplaces and bone jewellery. 

Bachnetzer and his colleagues can classify further finds into the late Bronze Age. A large number of other artefacts date back to the Iron Age. Wood charcoal remains even indicate that in the early Roman times humans were encamped under the protection of the Witch's rock. A small coin from the time of Leopold the 1st and a coat clasp testify to the presence of humans in modern times. According to contemporary witnesses, the Hexenfels was also used as a milking place for shepherds. Before the excavations began, hikers and youth groups often stayed there overnight. According to the archaeologist's calculations, there is a continuity of use of about 7500 to 8000 years.