Bosnia and Herzegovina during the Ice age

The exhibition shows the fossil remains of mammals, mostly of Upper Pleistocene age from the territory of Bosnia and Herzegovina, the scaly formations of the caves of Bosnia and Herzegovina, and subfossils and bones of today’s mammals found in the caves of Herzegovina.

The remains of mammoth (Mammonteus primigenius), elk (Alces alces) and bison (Bison priscus) indicate that in the Upper Pleistocene, approximately 12,000 years ago, the area of ​​today’s Bosnia and Herzegovina was covered with snow and ice. Glaciers then covered the mountains Vranica, Vran, Čvrsnica, Prenj, Velež, Bjelašnica, Treskavica and many others.

In addition to the exhibited remains of mammoths, elks, bison, deer, etc., numerous finds of fossil, subfossil and younger bones testify to the fact that caves have always served as hiding places. Visitors can also see a fossil tooth of a cave panther (Panthera spelaea) from the Upper Pleistocene age found near Buško blato (Livno), as well as subfossil bones found in some caves in Herzegovina. The skull of a cave bear (Ursus spelaeus) from the Megara cave on Bjelašnica is also one of the most attractive exhibits of the permanent display.