Summer is drawing to a close and the reindeer herds are moving through the narrow valleys of the Swabian Jura to warmer climes. Several groups of hunters have gathered at a particularly narrow spot. The trampling of hooves comes ever closer. Now they just wait for a good moment to break cover and kill as many reindeer as possible.
The day was a complete success! A good supply of smoked meat, hides and leather has been secured again, for the time being.
The evening is given over to celebration! More than 50 people have gathered around the big campfire to enjoy the autumnal day together. The crackling fire fills the air with thick smoke. Loud drumbeats echo through the valley, setting the rhythm for the women’s dance. In a stooped posture, they move in a circle to the steady beat of the music. The event is a good opportunity to exchange raw materials such as jet, a type of coal, and shells. The time is also used to resolve conflicts within and between the groups, to reach agreements or just to chat. Tomorrow, the individual groups will set off again in completely different directions. It will probably be a long time before they meet again.
