Two exquisitely carved Ice Age bird figurines, each no larger than a thumbnail, have been discovered at the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Hohle Fels Cave in Germany’s Swabian Jura.
The 40,000-year-old mammoth ivory carvings were uncovered by an archaeological team from the University of Tübingen during excavations in the cave’s Aurignacian layers, renowned for producing some of the earliest examples of figurative art created by modern humans.
The discoveries include an almost complete carving of what researchers believe is a resting — and possibly brooding — bird, alongside a second figurine depicting a bird with outstretched wings. Although the latter is missing part of its left wing, both sculptures display remarkable craftsmanship despite their diminutive size.
Professor Nicholas Conard, who leads the excavations and heads the Department of Early Prehistory and Quaternary Ecology at the University of Tübingen, said the finds demonstrate the extraordinary artistic ability of Ice Age craftspeople.
“The figurines show that the creators of the world’s oldest art were able to depict birds in diverse and highly intricate ways. They also suggest that certain artistic motifs were unique to specific archaeological sites,” Conard said.
The two figurines were found around 1.5 metres apart within the same archaeological layer. Whether they were carved by the same artist or by different generations remains unknown.
Smallest Ice Age Artwork Yet Found
Measuring just two centimetres long, one centimetre wide and half a centimetre high, the bird with outstretched wings is now considered the smallest known piece of Ice Age figurative art discovered in the UNESCO World Heritage region. Most previously recovered carvings range between three and nine centimetres in length.
Despite their tiny size, the figures contain striking detail. The resting bird features carefully carved round eyes, while the second displays a distinctive beak and finely incised parallel lines representing feathers.
According to Conard, the carvings go beyond simple representations. “The mammoth tusk was not merely shaped into a simplified bird. These artists carefully observed nature and translated those observations into figures detailed enough to allow us to consider which species they may represent and what behaviour they are displaying.”
Clues to Ice Age Life
Unlike many Ice Age animal figurines, which are portrayed standing still, the newly discovered birds appear to capture specific behaviours.
Researchers believe the reclining bird, with its flattened posture, tucked legs and head drawn close to its body, may represent a bird incubating eggs. The second figure, with its extended wings and elongated neck, could depict flight, landing on water, courtship or even a defensive display.
Identifying the species remains difficult. Archaeologists suggest they may represent ptarmigan, whose bones are commonly found in the region’s archaeological record, although capercaillie, other pheasant-like birds or birds of prey are also being considered.
A Distinctive Artistic Signature
Weighing just 1.3 grams and 0.7 grams respectively, the miniature carvings raise significant questions about Ice Age symbolism and artistic traditions.
Researchers are investigating whether the birds served as personal talismans, symbols of group identity or held another cultural significance for hunter-gatherers living in the region 40,000 years ago.
The discoveries also strengthen evidence that Hohle Fels possessed its own artistic identity. The cave has now yielded three bird carvings, including a water bird discovered around 25 years ago. By contrast, no bird figurines have been found at the other three Ice Age art sites within the UNESCO World Heritage area, despite numerous carvings of mammoths, cave lions and wild horses.
“We are increasingly recognising that each ivory workshop had its own distinctive artistic traditions,” Conard said. “Each site bears its own unique signature.”
Public Exhibition
The two bird figurines are now on display at the Museum of Prehistory and Ice Age Art (urmu) in Blaubeuren as part of the exhibition Featherlight and Research-Heavy – Discover the Miniature Birds of Ice Age Art, where they will remain until 4 April 2027.
Dr Stefanie Kölbl, Managing Director of the museum, said birds would have been a constant presence in the lives of Ice Age communities, marking the seasons through migration, warning of danger with alarm calls and inspiring music played on bone flutes.
“How wonderful that people also captured these enchanting creatures so vividly in ivory,” she said.
The urmu sits close to the Hohle Fels Cave, one of the prehistoric caves that formed part of UNESCO’s Caves and Ice Age Art of the Swabian Jura World Heritage inscription in 2017. The museum houses some of the world’s oldest known artworks and musical instruments, including the celebrated Venus of Hohle Fels.
Sources : University of Tübingen
