Kozarnika

Kozarnika Cave, also widely known among scientific circles and locals as Kozarska Cave or Zhivanina Dupka, is one of the most significant archaeological and paleontological sites not only in Bulgaria but globally. Located in the picturesque landscape of the Western Balkan Mountains within the Dimovo Municipality (Vidin Province), this site is an essential destination for historical research. While the cave itself is relatively short, with a total gallery length of 210 meters, its true value lies in the ancient earthen layers that shield the traces of the earliest human history. Situated in close proximity is another popular natural landmark - the electrified and visitor-friendly Venetsa Cave. Logistics, Access, and Location Kozarnika Cave is nestled into prominent limestone cliffs, roughly 2.2 kilometers west-southwest of the village of Gara Oreshets, right alongside the main road leading toward the town of Belogradchik. - How to Get There: Access to the cave entrance is quick and straightforward. A narrow, steep pedestrian path begins at a designated shoulder on the main asphalt road. - Distance: The walk up the trail takes only about 250 meters, making the cave an excellent stop for a brief archaeological excursion while traveling through the Belogradchik Rocks region. Sensational Archaeological Discoveries and International Excavations Since 1996, the cave has been the site of continuous and extensive archaeological excavations. These are organized jointly by the National Archaeological Institute with Museum at the Bulgarian Academy of Sciences (BAS) in Sofia and the Institute of Geology and Prehistory of the Quaternary in Bordeaux, France. The scientific expeditions are led by prominent researchers Nikolay Sirakov and Jean-Luc Guadelli. The excavations have uncovered a unique Late Paleolithic culture dating from 37 000 to 34 000 BC. The findings here differ significantly from those in other famous Bulgarian caves, such as Temnata Dupka and Bacho Kiro, showing astonishing similarities with cultures that spread across Western Europe several millennia later. Evidence of the Earliest Human Presence in Europe While the cave was actively occupied during the Middle Paleolithic, its deepest, lowest Early Paleolithic layers have triggered international acclaim and scientific sensation. - Human Fossils: These deep strata are dated to an incredible age of 1.4 million years ago. Within them, archaeologists discovered a tooth belonging to an early representative of the genus Homo, highly suspected to be Homo erectus. If this scientific dating is conclusively verified, it will stand as the oldest evidence of human presence in all of Europe. - Symbolic Thinking: Another find from the same ancient layers (dating back 1.2 to 1.4 million years) has sparked intense scientific debate - several animal bones bearing clear, intentional sequences of parallel incised lines. The excavating archaeologists are confident that these notches were made deliberately rather than being an accidental byproduct of butchering meat. This hypothesis is revolutionary, as current mainstream science suggests that the capacity for symbolic thought emerged much later, strictly with Homo sapiens. Unique Ancient Fauna and the Environment of Kozarnika Numerous fossilized remains of extinct predators, such as the cave bear and cave hyena, have been unearthed inside Kozarnika. Furthermore, the ancient avian fauna of the cave has been studied in exceptional detail. Within the Late Pleistocene deposits (dating back 80 000 to 19 000 years ago during the Würm glaciation), paleornithologist Professor Zlatozar Boev identified bone fragments from 43 distinct bird species. Among them is the fossil species Perdix paleoperdix, along with four species that have long since vanished from modern Bulgarias wildlife: Black Grouse and Snowy Owl. Willow Ptarmigan and Red-billed Chough. The avian fossils from the Kozarska Cave provide perfect examples of so-called mixed faunas. Species that today never share the same ecosystem anywhere on Earth are found here cohabiting - such as snowy owls alongside rock partridges, or ptarmigans alongside red-rumped swallows. This unique composition proves that the environment surrounding the cave during the Ice Age was a mosaic forest-steppe, combining wide open grasslands with patches of coniferous and deciduous woods.