Station: [131] Sea Urchin Deposit

To their astonishment, archaeologists discovered a sea urchin deposit in the glacial period layers of earth in Markkleeberg in 2001. Fossilised sea urchins date from the Cretaceous age millions of years ago and can only be found in the southern Baltic Sea area. But glaciers transported these to Saxony during the Elster glacial period. 

You can have a look at an especially beautiful sea urchin by using the magnifying glass in the showcase. But the question is; why were the sea urchins deposited in such a large number? Did a Palaeolithic person perhaps collect them?

If we are to answer this question with yes, we would have to attribute these people with a feeling for beautiful things, but even today, many researchers deny early people their sense for aesthetic beauty.