Šipka

Šipka is a small karst cave carved into the slope of Kotouč hill, roughly a kilometer southeast of the center of Štramberk in Moravia. It may not look like much from the outside, but this modest cavern hosted one of the most important discoveries in European anthropology — the remains of a Neanderthal child that put Štramberk permanently on the map of world paleoanthropology.

What was found inside the Šipka cave?

On 26 August 1880, archaeologist Karel Jaroslav Maška uncovered a fragment of a mandible belonging to a child aged 8 to 10 years in the oldest sediment layer of the cave. Analysis showed the bone belonged to a Neanderthal — this was one of the first cases in the world where Neanderthal remains were found together with their cultural context, meaning traces of activity left behind by early humans. The find came only 24 years after Homo neanderthalensis was first recognized as a species in Germany, making it one of the key pieces of evidence confirming that this branch of humans had also lived in Central Europe.

Unfortunately, the original jawbone did not survive to the present day — it was destroyed at the end of World War II in a fire at Mikulov Castle, where it had been kept for safekeeping. Today, researchers and visitors can only study casts and the scientific documentation of this exceptional find.

Who excavated the cave, and what else did they learn?

Karel Jaroslav Maška carried out excavations at Šipka for fourteen years, from 1879 to 1893. Besides the child's remains, he unearthed more than 80,000 bones and teeth belonging to Pleistocene animals — cave bear, cave lion, hyena, woolly rhinoceros, mammoth, bison, aurochs, muskox, leopard, wolverine, reindeer, and moose. This vast collection of bones allowed scientists to reconstruct the fauna that shared the landscape with early humans in this part of Moravia during the Middle Paleolithic.

Why is the Šipka cave a protected site?

On 9 January 1960, the cave was declared a natural monument, a designation meant to safeguard both the unique archaeological site and the karst formation itself within Kotouč hill. The hill, best known today for its limestone quarry, still holds within it traces of human presence from tens of thousands of years ago, making it a location of exceptional significance on a European scale.

How do you get to the Šipka cave?

The cave lies along a walking route leading from Štramberk toward Kotouč hill, about a kilometer from the town's main square, itself known for the distinctive Trúba tower and the local pastry specialty, Štramberk ears. The cave entrance sits right by the marked trail, making it an easy addition to a short walk for anyone visiting Štramberk and its surroundings.

Frequently asked questions

What was discovered in the Šipka cave? In 1880, a mandible fragment from a Neanderthal child aged 8 to 10 was found there, along with tens of thousands of bones from Pleistocene animals.

Can you see the original jawbone today? No — the original was destroyed in a fire at Mikulov Castle at the end of World War II. Only casts and scientific documentation remain.

Who discovered the remains in the Šipka cave? Archaeologist Karel Jaroslav Maška, who excavated the site between 1879 and 1893.

Where exactly is the cave located? On the slope of Kotouč hill, about 1 km southeast of the center of Štramberk in Moravia, in the Moravian-Silesian Region of the Czech Republic.

Is the cave legally protected? Yes, Šipka has held the status of a natural monument since 9 January 1960.