Archaeology in the Waldviertel

In the high north of Lower Austria, archaeologists have come across some of the most important sites in Austria.

It is, above all, the rivers of the Waldviertel that have attracted people to the region since time immemorial – to camp here like the Neanderthals did on the river Krems 70,000 years ago or to establish a centre of power like the one on the river Kamp in the Early Middle Ages.

The Waldviertel has always been regarded as cool, sparsely populated and mysterious. Despite this reputation, the region is home to some of Austria’s most important archaeological sites. For instance, some of the oldest stone artefacts in our country comes from the Gudenushöhle cave in the Kremstal valley, which was inhabited by Neanderthals around 70,000 years ago. The eastern Waldviertel, especially the Horn Basin and the Kamptal valley, have been hotspots of archaeological research for decades. A Neolithic ritual site (c. 4500 BC) was uncovered in Kamegg am Kamp, while an important early medieval centre of power with a fortified upper town and an extensive valley settlement (eighth to tenth century AD) was discovered a few kilometres south in Thunau.