Markkleeberg is one of the oldest Palaeolithic finds in the Free State of Saxony (270,000 - 300,000 years), one of the most important Palaeolithic sites in Central Europe.
In 1895, Franz Etzold discovered the first man-made flint tools in a Markkleeberg gravel pit. However, Markkleeberg became known only through Karl-Hermann Jacob-Friesen, who in 1905 bargain tools in the Markkleeberger pit barg, scientifically evaluated these findings and made known in Europe. The Markkleeberg finds are the earliest evidence of the ability of humans to colonize the glacial cold steppes. For the research history of prehistoric archeology in particular and the Ice Age research in general Markkleeberg has a fundamental importance.
In honor of the two explorers, in 1930 in the former find area (at the fork of the old Boma and Crostewitzer road), a 1.80 m large boulder of the Nordic inland ice was erected. The inscription reads: "The local high bank of the Pleiße is one of the most important Central German sites of the early Paleolithic. There are countless stone monuments of prehistoric man several hundred thousand years old in their ice age gravel pens. They were discovered and researched by dr. Etzold i. J. 1895 and dr. Jacob i. J. 1905. "
With the support of the Cultural and Environmental Foundation Leipziger Land of the City and District Savings Bank Leipzig, the memorial stone was redeveloped in 2008 and transferred to the authentic site. The solemn inauguration took place on 8.11.2008.