 The protected location on the western foot of the Gempen Plateau encouraged early settlement of the area.Paleolithic Magdalenian culture items from around 10,000BC were discovered in the Birseck–Ermitage and Hollenberg3 caves.Birseck–Ermitage was discovered in 1910 by Fritz Sartorius-Preiswerk, and Hollenberg3 was discovered in 1950 by Martin Herkert.