Mammoth Hunters – Prehistoric Discoveries

Beneath the slopes of the iconic mound lies one of Europe’s most remarkable Ice Age sites — a place where prehistoric hunters once tracked and butchered mammoths. The discoveries made here offer a rare glimpse into life tens of thousands of years ago, when early humans roamed these hills and faced giants of the frozen world.

At the base of the hill, near today’s quiet residential streets, archaeologists uncovered an astonishing concentration of bones belonging to woolly mammoths. Hidden for millennia, these remains reveal a dramatic chapter of prehistory — one where teamwork, strategy, and survival shaped human existence long before Krakow became a city of kings.

Among the finds are tusks, ribs, vertebrae, and even delicate milk teeth. Together, they form a story of ancient hunters and the mighty creatures that once roamed this land.

HISTORY OF DISCOVERY
The first unusual bones were found in 1967 during construction work. Soon after, researchers began systematic excavations that lasted from 1968 to 2023. Over time, they unearthed remains of more than 113 mammoths, making this one of the largest Ice Age bone concentrations in Europe.

Tools and flint fragments discovered on site proved that prehistoric communities actively hunted these animals, rather than merely scavenging what nature left behind. The findings opened an entirely new chapter in the study of Paleolithic life in Central Europe.

The area was once a sloping terrain — perfect for driving mammoths uphill to tire them before the final strike. Flint spear points shattered upon impact, leaving fragments embedded in bone. Large quantities of stone tools showed that hunters processed meat and skins on-site, carrying the most valuable resources back to camp.

This site is not a burial ground — it was a carefully organized hunting and butchering location, providing insight into survival techniques during a harsh climatic era.

Excavations revealed nearly every type of bone: heavy tusks, skull fragments, vertebrae, and even tiny sesamoid bones. Such completeness is extremely rare, making this site invaluable for understanding both animal anatomy and early human behavior.

Among the most fascinating discoveries were teeth and tusks belonging to young mammoths — the first of their kind found in Poland — giving researchers a deeper understanding of herd dynamics and Ice Age ecology.

HOW DID THEY HUNT?
Strategy and terrain: mammals were driven uphill to natural traps
Weapons: flint-tipped spears thrown with precision and force
Processing: meat and skins prepared on site, bones left behind
Scale: remains of 113+ animals discovered

Early humans showed remarkable cooperation and planning — taking down creatures weighing up to six tons with only stone tools and teamwork.

This location stands apart from Central European Paleolithic settlements: instead of a seasonal camp, it served primarily as a killing ground. Hunters likely returned here regularly, knowing the terrain offered an advantage in the battle for survival.

PRACTICAL INFORMATION
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• Area located near Kościuszko Mound
• Accessible via nearby footpaths and historic fortifications
• Exhibits of original bones and tools can be viewed at Museum of Natural History (PAN), ul. Św. Sebastiana 9

WHY IT MATTERS
The discoveries made here illuminate a world long forgotten — a time when glaciers shaped the land and humans relied on skill, cooperation, and courage to survive.
They reveal not only the power of nature, but also the resilience and ingenuity of our earliest ancestors, making this quiet corner of Krakow one of the most important prehistoric sites in Europe.

Standing here today, surrounded by timeless earth and soft hills, it is easy to feel connected to those ancient hunters — witnesses to the dawn of human history beneath open Ice Age skies.