In the middle of the 19th century, scratches were discovered on the surface of the exposed quartz porphyry on the Kleiner Berg near Hohburg. These were thought to be the result of glacial ice and dust-laden winds. This finding fuelled the scientific debate about glaciation of the North German lowlands, long before this theory gained general acceptance.
The wind-cuts can be seen on the walls of the free-standing “Naumann-Heim rock” on the Kleiner Berg. During the Weichselian Ice Age between 115.000 and 12.000 years ago, the inland ice glaciers advancing from the north no longer reached the area of the Porphyrland Geopark. Instead, vast cold steppes expanded. Winds laden with fine sand and dust smoothed stones (wind edges) and rocks. The most well-known “worked” rock by the wind is the Naumann-Heim rock on the southeastern slope of the Kleiner Berg. The winds carved out fine grooves in the direction of the wind and created fine pits in the rock as impact marks.
Due to this special and valuable significance, the Ice Age traces on the Kleiner Berg have been designated a “National Geotope” and are a natural monument.
Please pay attention to the information provided by the municipalities and owners regarding the condition and accessibility of the geotopes.
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