525 GN CAVES CONTAINING BONES 



the Wiesenty contain not a single fragment of bone, while 

 those to the south are filled with them. 



In 1799, a cave, remarkable for its situation, was dis- 

 covered, which connects in some measure those of the 

 Hartz with those of Franconia. It is the Cave of 

 Glucksbrun, in the bailiwick of Altenstem, in the terri- 

 tory of Meinungen, on the south-western declivity of 

 the chain of the Thuringerwald (Blumenb. Archasol. 

 Tetturis, p. 15. Zach. Monate. Corresp. 1800, January, 

 p. 30.) It is the same which M. Rosenmliller names 

 Libenstein, on account of its being on the road from Al- 

 tenstein to this latter, which is a bathing place. There 

 is a description of it by M. Kocher, in the Magazinjur 

 Mineralogie, by M. C. E. A. De Hof, 1st band. heft. iv. 

 p. 427. The limestone in which it is situate rests upon 

 bituminous schist, and, rising much upwards, comes to 

 rest upon primitive rocks. The limestone varies in 

 hardness and in the nature of its fracture, and contains 

 marine petrifactions, such as pectinites, echinites, &c. 



In making a road, there was discovered an opening, 

 from which a very cold air issued, which determined the 

 Duke of Saxe-Meinungen to have it farther examined. 

 A narrow passage, of twenty feet in length, was found, 

 which led to a cave of thirty-five feet, having a breadth 

 of from three to twelve, and a height of from six to 

 twelve, according to the places, and terminated by a 

 large piece of rock, which was removed. The labour of 

 two years discovered and cleared a series of caves con- 

 nected together, and of which the bottom rose and fell 

 alternately. They terminate in a place where water 

 flows ; but various lateral fissures make it probable that 

 there are still several caves which have not been opened, 

 and that they perhaps form a sort of labyrinth. 



