Niederstotzingen

Niederstotzingen is an archaeological site of significant historical importance, located in southern Germany's Heidenheim district. The area has been inhabited since prehistoric times, as evidenced by mammoth ivory carvings discovered in the Vogelherdhöhle cave, dating back to 35,000 BCE. These carvings are considered some of the oldest known human artworks. The site's strategic location in the Lone Valley attracted both Celtic and Roman settlers, leading to the development of a Roman villa rustica and a network of ancient roads. In the early post-classical period, a 7th-century Alamannian cemetery was uncovered, revealing burials of nobles and their possessions. The site evolved into a fortified city during the Middle Ages, gaining city privileges in the 14th century. Niederstotzingen remains a fascinating study of human occupation from the Upper Paleolithic to the Middle Ages.