|
Buildings and path in the gorge The cave sanctuary |
In 1990 playing schoolchildren found human bones in a small cave some 350 meters to the south-west of the church of St. Martin, near the Hinterrhein. The cave was investigated from 1991 to 1995. From the finds could be deduced that it had been used as a pagan sanctuary from the middle of the third until the middle of the fifth century. The entrance of the cave was in antiquity closed off by a wooden partition with a door on one side, reached via a few steps that had been hacked out in the rock.
Location of the remains. On the plan the church is much closer to the cave than in reality. Ebnöther-Flückiger-Peter, Abb. 6.
1: cave; 2: remains of the Mediaeval castle Hasenstein; 3: church of St. Martin; 4: Hinterrhein. Late-antique remains are indicated in red.
View of the exterior of the cave. Photo: Wikimedia, Adrian Michael.
Reconstruction of the exterior of the cave. Ebnöther-Flückiger-Peter, Abb. 121.The cave was seven meters wide and four meters deep, reaching a maximum height of 2.50 meters. The door led to an antechamber. To the left was the main room, with a hearth, and with a window in the back wall. The interior was also illuminated by terracotta oil lamps. Iron nails must have formed part of wooden furniture.
View from the interior of the cave. Photo: Wikimedia, Adrian Michael.
Plan of the cave. From the information panel.
1-3: consecutive hearths; 4: layer with ashes; 5: pit; 6: wall; 7: post holes; 8: wall; 9: mortar base;
10: fireplace outside the cave; 11: antechamber; 12: steps in the rock; 13-15: tombs; 16: window.Many votive gifts were found: small sheets with a feather motif (two of silver, one of bronze), 647 coins (mostly small change from the fourth century), 156 fragments of rock crystals, and metal jewellery and dress accessories.
Rock crystals and coins found in the cave. Rätisches Museum, Chur. Photo: Wikimedia, Adrian Michael.Other finds testify to rituals and banquets. Ashes on the cave floor must be the remains of sacrifices. Two bone flutes with a single hole were found. An iron coal shovel probably also had a ritual function. Vessels of terracotta, glass and soapstone will have been used for communal meals. Countless animal bones were excavated. A remarkable discovery was a terracotta ring-shaped object, with three bowls and nine medallions connected by snakes. Seven medallions were preserved, one with a bust of Luna with a crescent moon, two with Mercurius holding the caduceus (herald's staff) and marsupium (money pouch), the others with jumping animals, including a boar and a dog or lion.
Reconstruction of the snake vessel. Diam. c. 0.40 m. Photo: Ebnöther-Flückiger-Peter, Abb. 93.
Drawing of appliques with Mercurius, Luna, and jumping animals. Rageth 1994, Abb. 41.
Much of the evidence suggests that the cave was not publicly accessible, but used by a small, closed community (which does not necessarily rule out the possibility that passers-by left a coin behind). Many finds and characteristics point to the mystery cult of Mithras. A cave played a central role in his cult. Here the deity had killed a sacred bull, a scene that was depicted on many reliefs.
Reconstruction of an initiation in the cave. Ebnöther-Flückiger-Peter, Abb. 127.The cave was given a new function after late antiquity. In the sixth and seventh century it was used for three burials. In the next few centuries more people were buried in front of the cave. The site was given up around 1200 AD.
Buildings and path in the gorge
The cave sanctuary
[5-Dec-2023]
