Ice Age artists carved thumbnail-size bird figurines from mammoth ivory 40,000 years ago

New findings from the Hohle Fels cave in southwestern Germany suggest that ancient humans may have used art as a crucial element in their survival and success during the Ice Age. Two tiny bird figurines, carved from mammoth ivory, along with fragments of a vulture-bone flute, were uncovered during the 2025 field season. These artifacts, dated to approximately 40,000 years ago, were revealed at the Museum of Prehistory and Ice Age Art in Blaubeuren, Germany, on 29 July. The discoveries add to the growing body of evidence that early humans possessed advanced cognitive abilities and creative skills far earlier than previously believed. Archaeologist Alexander Janas, from the Senckenberg Centre for Human Evolution and Palaeoenvironment in Tübingen, Germany, described the experience of exploring the cave during a recent heatwave as both physically challenging and intellectually rewarding. Despite the sweltering temperatures outside, the interior of Hohle Fels remains cool, drawing researchers like Janas and others to the site each summer. Over the past three decades, the cave has yielded remarkable finds, including the world's oldest human figurine, the 40,000-year-old Venus of Hohle Fels, and the earliest known musical instruments. These artifacts offer a glimpse into the lives of some of Europe’s earliest Homo sapiens, who lived during the Aurignacian period. Amy Clark, a palaeolithic archaeologist at Harvard University, emphasized the significance of these discoveries. The artworks found in Hohle Fels and surrounding caves provide insight into how early humans perceived their environment. According to Clark, these items allow researchers to "look through the eyes of the Aurignacian people and see how they viewed the world around them." Nicholas Conard, an archaeologist at the University of Tübingen, has led the excavation of Hohle Fels since the late 1990s. He believes the artistic achievements found in the cave represent a pivotal moment in human history, marking a shift in cognitive and cultural sophistication that may have contributed to the survival of these early humans in harsh Ice Age conditions. Conard expressed interest in further investigating the genetic makeup of the individuals who created these artifacts. By analyzing ancient DNA from cave sediments, he aims to uncover more about the people who inhabited the area and how their artistic expressions might have influenced their success. "This is the ultimate laboratory," Conard remarked, highlighting the importance of understanding the factors that drove human innovation and adaptation during this critical period. Hohle Fels, meaning "hollow rock" in German, is located in a river valley within the Swabian Jura, a highland region dotted with similar cave systems. The site has been explored and excavated intermittently for over a century, yielding bones of extinct species such as mammoths and reindeer, as well as stone tools. Earlier excavations in the Swabian Jura revealed ivory figurines, including the 31-centimetre-tall Lion Man statue found in the Hohlenstein-Stadel cave. These artifacts were initially considered rare, but subsequent discoveries have shown that such artistic expressions were more widespread than previously assumed. The presence of these artistic creations raises questions about the role of symbolism and creativity in early human societies. As Conard noted, the transition from nomadic lifestyles to settled communities coincided with the emergence of art and other forms of symbolic expression. This correlation suggests that the ability to create and appreciate art may have played a vital role in the social cohesion and survival strategies of early humans. Researchers continue to explore the connections between artistic innovation and the broader context of human evolution, seeking to understand how these elements shaped the trajectory of human civilization.