The Vltava River flows through very old rocks for most of its course, and on its journey north, it gradually intersects the Paleozoic limestones of the Prague basin, the Mesozoic sediments of the Czech chalk basin, Tertiary valleys, Quaternary river terraces, and Holocene foam stones. From the perspective of human history, it touches upon paleolithic tools over a quarter of a million years old in Sedlec, as well as late paleolithic and mesolithic camps in the Vltava valley and elsewhere. It passes through many archaeological cultures - in South Bohemia, particularly the remains from the Early Bronze Age, in the middle course it interacts with the Celts, and in the lower course with the Slavs. The book is not just a guide to geological or archaeological exploration of the riverbank. It is written with respect, admiration, humility, and love for the Vltava, which is more than just a river - it is a millennia-old trade route, a book of stories, and a gateway to time.
