Hidden in the hills outside the city of Heilbronn, Germany, lies a remarkable place – the old Jaegerhaus quarry with its striking sandstone walls and flourishing vegetation. For centuries, this quarry has been a source of prosperity and wealth for the local area. The stone was used to construct various landmarks, such as parts of Cologne Cathedral and statues at Heidelberg Castle.

Today, the quarry has been transformed into a nature reserve and recreational area, offering a picturesque destination for hikers and nature lovers.

Exploring the approximately half-kilometer-long path, nestled between large quarry walls on one side and a massive, almost artfully constructed spoil heap on the other, you can’t help but ponder if this location has a history beyond its quarry origins.

Upon reading the information board at the entrance, a sense of intrigue takes hold as you contemplate the remarkable mass of overburden in relation to the size of the mining area. As you venture deeper into the quarry, you’re struck by the sheer height of the dump, further fueling your curiosity. The question lingers: Was this place solely dedicated to overburden production in the past?

In the photo above, you can gain a better understanding of the layout of the depicted location. The former quarrying area is marked within the yellow lines, while the red lines indicate the boundaries of the current nature reserve. Interestingly, in front of the mining zone, there is a wooded region that forms an uninterrupted heap of excavated material.

The subsequent photos showcase the scale and seemingly implausible concept of this spoil heap theory.

On the left, the huge backfill, or spoil heap. If you look at the quality of the supposed quarry areas on the right, there should never have been so much useless material. Such an operation should hardly have been profitable in the past. Apart from that, this material should have been usable too to a considerable extent as gravel or similar.

The massive supposed spoil heap to the right, extending as a gigantic structure over a length of more than 400 meters and occupying the largest part of the area.

The so-called spoil heap

The huge, over 400 meters long supposed spoil heap, enclosed with dry-stone masonry. Why is this masonry missing in certain areas? Was it removed during the quarrying operations?

The rock faces within the quarry exhibit an unusual characteristic of being perfectly flat across expansive sections. This stark uniformity is not typically observed in ancient quarry operations, as the natural process of extraction often leaves irregular surfaces. Additionally, the idea of smoothing the rock faces after extraction seems economically impractical and raises further questions.

In the last photo of the series below, there is clear evidence of the plain wall beginning to be dismantled from the right side. This observation adds another layer of intrigue to the history and earlier purpose of this site.

Over time, the effects of frost and erosion have undoubtedly left their mark on these rock faces. However, despite these natural transformations, it is still possible to envision how these walls might have appeared in their original state. The enduring presence of these structures invites us to imagine the history and stories that they hold.

If that flattening of the rock faces was not primarily due to stone quarrying, what other reasons could have been the determining ones? Could it be that these walls served to create a proper backdrop for this massive, mound-like structure known as a “spoil heap”? Is it possible that they held a symbolic and ritual significance in the historical context of the site?

Aside from various erosion marks, a perfectly smoothed rock face. Is this really the result of quarrying operations, or was it intentionally shaped for aesthetic purposes?

Aside from various erosion marks, a perfectly smoothed rock face. Is this really the result of quarrying operations, or was it intentionally shaped for aesthetic purposes?

The rock face in which the triangular recess is located. Apart from various damages, likely caused by frost fragmentation, it is completely flat and smooth, as if it had been polished. What former quarrying technique produced this appearance?

A smoothed rock face with strong erosion marks. Was this wall once entirely flat a long time ago? In the far right area, it really looks like a quarry operation, as if the stone blocks that are piled up at its foot were broken out.

Again and again you come across smoothed rock faces. It is questionable whether these flat surfaces are really the result of former stone quarrying. The damage probably comes from frost blasting and partly perhaps also from quarry operations.

Again and again you come across smoothed rock faces. It is questionable whether these flat surfaces are really the result of former stone quarrying. The damage probably comes from frost blasting and partly perhaps also from quarry operations.

Prominent tree in front of the rock faces in the background, which show real signs of quarrying. In this area, it seems that stone quarrying was carried out. Compared to the large completely smooth and polished walls in other areas of the site, it really looks like a quarry here.

A smooth rock face. Does it stem from the former stone quarrying or was it intentionally shaped this way?

Here you can see once again more clearly how they started to dismantle the previously smooth wall.

The landscape is adorned with the distinctive presence of meticulously constructed dry stone walls, which can be observed throughout the area. These walls were officially intended to provide stability to the overburden or excess material. In many locations, these walls have either been damaged or completely dismantled. It is plausible to imagine that these walls once encircled the entire man-made mound, forming a boundary. In fact, it is even conceivable that the hill itself, akin to a pyramid, was constructed entirely from these carefully placed stones.

The presence of the old and dilapidated loading station right where it was built indicates that it was used specifically for the piecewise dismantling of the so-called stockpile (see the two last photos of the series below).

Then, over time, through weathering of plant debris, a humus layer accumulated on their slopes, perhaps covering the underlying stone construction. To gain a more complete insight into the structure of the dump, a horizontal excavation towards its center would provide information about its composition.

A large brick ramp leading up the so-called spoil heap. It consists of a carefully placed dry-stone masonry.

A dry-stone boundary of the huge spoil heap, or the ancient monument, depending on one's personal perspective.

Dry-stone walls run along the path between the rock face and the so-called spoil heap. In the background, it is evident how high this supposed waste material piles up.

Beautiful dry-stone masonry. All for just a spoil heap? In the background, the smoothed rock face. What ancient quarrying technique generated such surfaces?

Old dry-stone walls are visible everywhere.

A carefully stacked dry-stone wall. To the left, another large rock face that appears smooth and polished.

Dry-stone masonry

Throughout the entire area, there are many dry-stone walls, even in places where they actually don't make sense as a safeguard against the so-called spoil heaps sliding off

Old filling station, where finer materials were loaded directly onto horse-drawn wagons. Was an ancient mound structure dismantled here, stone by stone?

Old filling station, where finer materials were loaded directly onto horse-drawn wagons. Was an ancient mound structure dismantled here, stone by stone?

If you examine one of the large smooth rock faces, you come across a triangular depression. Upon closer inspection, you notice an entrance below it, set into the wall. Unfortunately, this entrance is partially covered by thick layers of clay which leave only a small gap, so it is difficult to determine the extent of the cavity behind it. At some time, a concrete ceiling was placed between the triangular niche and the room below, suggesting a deliberate separation, so that the entrance could be sealed with an iron gate. Parts of the latter can still be seen, totally rusted.

A strange triangular recess in a huge rock face smoothed over its entire length.

Below the triangular recess, a buried portal is just barely recognizable. Where it leads and what its function once was remains a mystery. At some point in more recent times, a concrete ceiling was installed above it and the entrance below secured with a kind of steel door or gate.

The presence of symbolic representations in various spots raises whether this place has always served only as a quarry, or whether it may have had a deeper importance back in the past, possibly even dating back to prehistoric times.

The symbolism is undoubtedly from more recent times. However, it shows that other people also attribute a special meaning to this site. It is therefore worth considering whether it was endowed with spiritual significance by the people already, who may have used it as a place of worship in ancient times. 

In the distant past, flowing water, wells and holy lakes held great importance and were often associated with spiritual beliefs and rituals. The presence of a spring at the entrance of the quarry area is therefore no surprise.

A spiral sun, a shamanic healing symbol, carved into a stone lying around. Probably not ancient, but an indication that more people believe that this is actually the remains of an ancient sacred site that centuries of quarrying could not completely destroy.

Hamsa symbol painted by someone in the present time on a rock face. The symbol goes back to ancient Mesopotamia and was associated there with the goddess Ishtar. From there it has spread all over the world to this day and is seen, among other things, as a symbol of protection.

Many ancient sanctuaries have springs and running water. This is probably an elementary component of such places of power.

The following movie gives a few impressions of the location.

The old quarry area near the city of Heilbronn in southwestern Germany.