Around 17,000 years ago, after the retreat of the Ice Age glaciers, people returned to our region. The world then looked very different than it does today: herds of reindeer, musk oxen, and mighty mammoths roamed the barren, cold steppe. People followed the animals and met in the spring at the Kesslerloch cave to hunt reindeer. They found flint in the surrounding area. With its sharp edges, they made tools, weapons, and even needles for their clothing. Their artworks also attest to their creativity and craftsmanship.

Who were these people who lived in the Schaffhausen region at that time? How did they feed and clothe themselves? How did they organize their communal life, and what was their relationship with nature and the resources of their environment?

The exhibition seeks answers to these and many other questions. It provides a tangible sense of how Ice Age people lived, what we know about them from research today—and where mysteries remain. Interactive media stations and hands-on activities complement the exhibits and invite visitors young and old to get involved and dive into life 17,000 years ago.

 

Back to the Ice Age: Hands-on Activities for the Whole Family
Take a time machine back to the Ice Age: throughout the exhibition, hands-on stations encourage visitors to have their own experiences. You can work with antler and wood using sharp flint, twist sturdy cords from plant fibers, and create your own Ice Age jewelry from shells. If you’re brave enough, you can even go on a reindeer hunt in virtual reality.