Secrets of the ancient Polish cave of Siemna, inhabited by people from time immemorial

In Siemna Cave (Dark Cave), located on the side of a river valley in a magnificent national park, near Krakow, Poland, a huge amount of ancient secrets is hidden.

How did the interest arise in the cave

Scientists examined the cave and found evidence of a very ancient human settlement. People lived in the cave 120,000 years ago, and therefore Siemna Cave is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Poland.

In 2007, archaeologists began excavating the cave, and to date, about 1,000 stone artifacts have been collected.

Some of the artifacts discovered include knives and tools that are exhibited today in a park near the museum.

What is Siemna Cave

• A limestone cave 230 meters long dates from the late Jurassic period, about 150 million years ago. Inside the dark cave there is one large chamber, which turns into a very long, vast passage.
• The cave has a large number of interesting stalagmites, and the chamber ceiling is decorated with several small tubular stalactites.

Historical reconstruction of the Neanderthal settlement

In 2004, a reconstruction of the Neanderthal settlement was built in front of the cave, which in 1787 was visited by King Stanislav Augustus Ponyatovsky and Bishop Adam Narushevich (1733 – 1796), a Polish-Lithuanian nobleman, poet, historian, playwright, translator and publicist.

Here were found traces of one of the oldest prehistoric settlements in Poland, dating to about 120,000 BC.

According to Bishop Narushevich,

“The grotto was cut down by nature from the heart of a rocky mountain. Even at the entrance it looks like a huge underground vaulted hall. Apart from this slightly narrowing vast dungeon there is another cave in the form of a narrow corridor with a lower ceiling. How far does this person reach the cliff, no one does not know”.

Siemna today

Currently, the only inhabitants of the cave are bats and other invertebrates, but in very ancient times this place was a settlement for people.

The cave is not only of great archaeological importance. It is also a significant natural attraction. You can visit the cave and excursions are available from April to October.