Pre-History

The first human findings in Appenzell date back to the warmer Intermediate Ice Age, i.e. from the years 40'000 to 30'000 years before Christ. During excavations in the Wildkirchli Caves located in the south-east wall of the Ebenalp, not only bones from bears were found but also specially shaped stones from the Weissbach Schwende valley which must have been carried up there by people.

The oldest findings of human tools date back to the Bronze Age. In the Appenzell area two bronze axes dated around 1200 to 1100 years before Christ were found in Forren located between Appenzell and Weissbad. Since findings from the Bronze Age were also found in the St. Gallen Rhine Valley, it is possible that these axes came from the Rhine Valley.

However out of these coincidental and scanty findings, it cannot be concluded that there had been a prehistoric settlement in Appenzell. More likely is that Appenzell was hardly touched by the wanderings in prehistoric times. It appears therefore that there was a real "no-man's land" between the Celtic and Rhaetian-Illyrian people.