The origin of the sites Kranachberg and Jägerberg goes back to around 30 million years ago, when the surrounding mountains (Koralpe, Gleinalpe, etc) had risen and many basins were created. Some 16 million years ago, as the mountains continued to rise, the basins eventually filled with deposits and debris. Around 10 million years ago in the area, the Mediterranean sea flooded and ebbed four times. Although the flooded waters were relatively shallow (30 - 50 meters deep), they left behind in the basins shallow water sediments such as sand and light chalk. Surface water (rivers and streams) brought decomposed debris from the surrounding mountains into the basins. And as a result, there are now multi-layered river and sea sediments, the so-called Kreuzbergschichten. The Südsteiermark is one of these basins, and where our sites Kranachberg and Jägerberg are situated.